The lingual artery is the primary blood supply to the tongue, passing deep to the hyoglossus (while the hypoglossal nerve lies superficial to the muscle). Its tortuous course through the tongue provides the mobility needed for lingual articulation without vascular compromise during extreme tongue movement. Lingual artery ligation is performed for severe tongue haemorrhage and during tongue base tumour resection.
| Origin | External carotid artery at the level of the hyoid bone |
|---|---|
| Course | Arises from the external carotid artery opposite the tip of the greater horn of the hyoid, loops upward above the hyoid, passes deep to hyoglossus (where it gives the dorsal lingual arteries and the sublingual artery), and runs forward on the underside of the tongue to the tip as the deep lingual artery |
| Branches |
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At hyoglossus the hypoglossal nerve lies superficial to the muscle and the lingual artery deep to it, making the muscle the landmark for finding both in floor of mouth and tongue base surgery. In partial glossectomy the artery can be tied at hyoglossus to control bleeding, and the deep lingual artery is ligated within the specimen while the dorsal lingual branches keep the remaining tongue base alive. After total glossectomy the lingual artery stump is a useful recipient vessel for free flap reconstruction. The sublingual branch can bleed during floor of mouth surgery, including removal of submandibular duct stones, and bilateral lingual artery ligation is avoided where possible.
Massive tongue bleeding from lingual artery injury in trauma or surgery requiring arterial ligation or angiographic embolisation.
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