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Submental Artery

arteria submentalis

The submental artery is the largest cervical branch of the facial artery, arising just before the facial artery crosses the inferior border of the mandible. It runs forward along the inferior surface of the mylohyoid muscle, supplying the submental triangle, the anterior digastric and mylohyoid muscles, and the skin and soft tissues of the chin and submental region. It anastomoses with the sublingual artery from the lingual system.

Region: Head & Skull

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

The submental artery is the pedicle for the submental island flap, a reliable fasciocutaneous flap used for oral cavity, oropharyngeal, and lower facial reconstruction after oncological resection. The flap is based on the submental artery as it runs along the inferior mylohyoid surface, and is elevated with the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the submental region. The submental flap provides thin, pliable tissue for intraoral lining. The artery is at risk during supraomohyoid and bilateral neck dissection when subplatysmal flaps are elevated in the submental region.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Submental Artery Flap for Oral Cavity Reconstruction

The submental island flap pedicled on the submental artery provides thin, pliable fasciocutaneous tissue for reconstruction of floor of mouth, tongue, and lower gingival defects after cancer resection, with the skin paddle harvested from the submental region and rotated into the oral cavity through a tunnel under the mandible.