Submental artery

Submental artery is a branch of the facial artery that supplies blood to the structures in the chin and lower lip. The term "submental" is derived from the Latin words "sub" meaning under and "mentum" meaning chin.

Anatomy

The submental artery arises from the facial artery in the submandibular region, just deep to the submandibular gland. It then runs forward on the mylohyoid muscle, under the digastric muscle and stylohyoid muscle, and finally reaches the lower border of the mandible.

At the mandible, it turns upwards over the body of the mandible, under cover of the platysma muscle, and divides into a superficial and a deep branch. The superficial branch runs forward to supply the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the chin and lower lip. The deep branch runs upwards to supply the mylohyoid muscle and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle.

Clinical significance

The submental artery is of clinical significance in several surgical procedures, including reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. It is also important in the management of hemorrhage from the face and neck.

See also

• Facial artery
• Submandibular gland
• Mylohyoid muscle
• Digastric muscle
• Stylohyoid muscle
• Mandible
• Platysma muscle

References

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