Mental branch of inferior alveolar artery

At a glance

English

Mental branch of inferior alveolar artery

Latin (TA2)

Ramus mentalis arteriae alveolaris inferioris

System

Artery

Region

Head

Side

Paired, left and right

About the mental branch of inferior alveolar artery

The inferior alveolar artery is a branch of the first part of the maxillary artery. It enters the mandibular foramen on the inner surface of the ramus and runs forwards in the mandibular canal with the inferior alveolar nerve, supplying the lower teeth and the bone. Near the premolar teeth it divides, and the mental branch is the part that leaves the bone.

The mental branch passes out through the mental foramen, which lies on the outer surface of the body of the mandible, usually below the second premolar tooth or between the two premolars. It emerges with the mental nerve and the accompanying vein, beneath depressor anguli oris. Its branches spread in the soft tissue of the chin and the lower lip and join the inferior labial and submental arteries, both branches of the facial artery.

The foramen is a key landmark in dental and facial surgery. Implant placement, removal of premolar roots, chin reshaping and fixation of jaw fractures in this region all risk the vessel and, more importantly, the mental nerve beside it, whose injury leaves the lower lip and chin numb. Bleeding from the mental branch is usually minor because of its many connections with the facial artery, but it can obscure the field. Local anaesthetic injected near the foramen blocks the mental nerve for work on the lower lip.

Course and supply

Arises from

Inferior alveolar artery, at its division within the mandibular canal near the premolar teeth.

Ends in

Leaves the mental foramen and ends in branches to the chin and lower lip that join the inferior labial and submental arteries.

Supplies

Supplies the skin and soft tissue of the chin and the lower lip.