| Submental artery | |
| Latin: | arteria submentalis |
| Branchfrom: | facial artery |
| Branchto: | superficial branch deep branch |
The submental artery is the largest branch of the facial artery in the neck.[1] It first runs forward under the mouth, then turns upward upon reaching the chin.
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.
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.