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A rare anatomical variation of the submental artery

  • Anatomic Variations
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Abstract

The submental artery usually runs anteriorly on the inferior surface of the mylohyoid muscle, giving branches to that muscle and to the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, finally supplying the submental skin. Branches of it often perforate the mylohyoid muscle and enter the sublingual space. During a routine anatomy dissection, we encountered a case in which the main trunk of the submental artery perforated the mylohyoid muscle, where the sublingual artery usually runs. No branches coursed anteriorly to supply the submental skin. To our knowledge, this submental artery variation has not been reported in the English literature. Any surgical procedure in the submandibular area, such as the axial pattern submental local flap, requires knowledge of such arterial variations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan

    Masanori Masui & Soichiro Ibaragi

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan

    Tatsuo Okui

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs & Joe Iwanaga

  4. Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs & Joe Iwanaga

  5. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

    R. Shane Tubbs

  6. Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  7. Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  8. Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga

  9. Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga

Authors
  1. Masanori Masui
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  2. Soichiro Ibaragi
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  3. Tatsuo Okui
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  4. R. Shane Tubbs
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  5. Joe Iwanaga
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Contributions

Conceptualization: RST, JI. Data acquisition: MM, TO, JI. Data analysis or interpretation: MM, SI, JI. Drafting of the manuscript: MM, TO. Critical revision of the manuscript: SI, RST, JI. Approval of the final version of the manuscript: all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joe Iwanaga.

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Masui, M., Ibaragi, S., Okui, T. et al. A rare anatomical variation of the submental artery. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 1805–1808 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02830-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02830-6

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