Submental artery
{{Short description|Branch of the facial artery}}
{{Infobox artery
| Name = Submental artery
| Latin = arteria submentalis
| Image = Gray1024.png
| Caption = Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side. (Submental artery visible at bottom right.)
| Image2 =
| Caption2 =
| BranchFrom = facial artery
| BranchTo = superficial branch
deep branch
| Vein =
| Supplies =
}}
The submental artery is the largest branch of the facial artery in the neck.{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1201341621 |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42th |location=New York |pages=586 |oclc=1201341621}} It first runs forward under the mouth, then turns upward upon reaching the chin.
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.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} 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{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} 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.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
- 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.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
Additional images
File:Gray507.png|Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
File:Slide1fff.JPG|Submental artery
File:Slide4hhh.JPG|Submental artery
References
{{Gray's}}
{{Reflist}}{{Arteries of head and neck}}
{{Portal bar|Anatomy}}
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