Submental artery

Anatomy

Origin

The submental artery is the largest branch of the facial artery in the neck.

It arises from the facial artery just as the facial artery splits the submandibular gland.

Course and distribution

The artery passes anterior-ward upon the mylohyoid muscle, coursing inferior to the body of the mandible and deep to the digastric muscle. Here, the artery supplies adjacent muscles and skin; it also forms anastomoses with the sublingual artery and with the mylohyoid branch of the inferior alveolar artery. Upon reaching the chin, artery turns superior-ward at the mandibular symphysis to pass over the mandible before dividing into a superficial branch and a deep branch; the two terminal branches are distributed to the chin and lower lip, and form anastomoses with the inferior labial and mental arteries.

Distribution

Branches

• The superficial branch passes between the integument and depressor labii inferioris, and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery.
• The deep branch runs between the muscle and the bone, supplies the lip, and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery and the mental branch of the inferior alveolar artery.