Submental artery

The submental artery (Latin: arteria submentalis) is a branch of the facial artery. It arises as the facial artery runs on the underside of the chin. The submental artery supplies the submandibular and sublingual glands, mylohyoid muscle, and skin in the submental area.

After originating from the facial artery, the submental artery turns anteriorly above the mylohyoid muscle below the mandible supplying the overlying skin, muscles and glands. Here it also anastomoses with the sublingual branch of the lingual artery and the mylohyoid branch of the inferior alveolar artery.

When the submental artery ascends over the mandible it divides into a superficial and a deep branch. The superficial branch runs between the integument and the depressor labii inferioris muscle and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery. The deep branch of the submental artery supplies the lower lip and anastomoses with the inferior labial and mental arteries.