The submental artery is a branch of the facial artery

Facial artery

The facial artery is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.-Structure:...

 that runs on the underside of the chin

Chin

In the human anatomy, the chin is the lowermost part of the face.It is formed by the lower front of the mandible.People show a wide variety of chin structures. See Cleft chin....

.

Course

The submental artery is the largest of the cervical branches of the facial artery

Facial artery

The facial artery is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.-Structure:...

, given off just as that vessel leaves the submandibular gland

Submandibular gland

The paired submandibular glands are salivary glands located beneath the floor of the mouth. In humans, they account for 70% of the salivary volume and weigh about 15 grams. Unstimulated in humans, the percentage contribution to whole saliva; ~25% Parotid, Submandibular and Sublingual ~ 67% and...

: it runs forward upon the mylohyoid

Mylohyoid

Mylohyoid can refer to:* Mylohyoid muscle* Mylohyoid line* Mylohyoid nerve* Mylohyoid branch of inferior alveolar artery* Mylohyoid groove...

, just below the body of the mandible, and beneath the digastric muscle.

It supplies the surrounding muscles, and anastomoses with the sublingual artery

Sublingual artery

The Sublingual Artery arises at the anterior margin of the Hyoglossus, and runs forward between the Genioglossus and Mylohyoideus to the sublingual gland....

 and with the mylohyoid branch of the inferior alveolar artery

Inferior alveolar artery

- Course :It descends with the inferior alveolar nerve to the mandibular foramen on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible.It runs along the mandibular canal in the substance of the bone, accompanied by the nerve, and opposite the first premolar tooth divides into two branches, incisor and...

; at the symphysis menti

Symphysis menti

The external surface of the mandible is marked in the median line by a faint ridge, indicating the symphysis menti, mandibular symphysis, or line of junction of the two pieces of which the bone is composed at an early period of life....

 it turns upward over the border of the mandible.

The submental vessels also supply a territory of skin in the submental area. Surgeons can use the skin and vessels in reconstruction of the face or the oral cavity.

Branching

When the submental artery turns upward over the border of the mandible it divides into a superficial and a deep branch.

• The superficial branch passes between the integument and depressor labii inferioris, and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery
  Inferior labial artery
  The Iinferior labial artery arises near the angle of the mouth; it passes upward and forward beneath the Triangularis and, penetrating the Orbicularis oris, runs in a tortuous course along the edge of the lower lip between this muscle and the mucous membrane.It supplies the labial glands, the...
  
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• The deep branch runs between the muscle and the bone, supplies the lip, and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery
  Inferior labial artery
  The Iinferior labial artery arises near the angle of the mouth; it passes upward and forward beneath the Triangularis and, penetrating the Orbicularis oris, runs in a tortuous course along the edge of the lower lip between this muscle and the mucous membrane.It supplies the labial glands, the...
  
   and the mental branch of the inferior alveolar artery
  Inferior alveolar artery
  - Course :It descends with the inferior alveolar nerve to the mandibular foramen on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible.It runs along the mandibular canal in the substance of the bone, accompanied by the nerve, and opposite the first premolar tooth divides into two branches, incisor and...
  
  .