Corpus: Submental artery

The submental artery is a vascular branch of the facial artery that runs along the underside of the mandible.

The submental artery originates as the largest cervical branch of the facial artery after it has left the submandibular gland (mandibular salivary gland). It runs forwards on the mylohyoid muscle just below the corpus mandibulae and is covered by the digastric muscle.

The submental artery supplies the surrounding muscles through small branches and anastomoses with the sublingual artery and with the ramus mylohyoideus of the inferior alveolar artery.

Near the symphysis of the mandible, it swings upwards over the edge of the mandible and divides into two terminal branches:

• Superficial ramus: the superficial branch runs between the facial skin and the depressor labii inferioris muscle and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery.
• Ramus profundus: The deep branch runs between the depressor labii inferioris muscle and the mandibular bone. It supplies the lower lip and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery and the mental artery.