An anatomical evaluation of the submental artery in a select South African population: a cadaveric study

Understanding the anatomical variation of the submental artery (SA) is crucial for dissection of the submental region. Failure to recognize variations in this artery can lead to undesirable outcomes when using the SA island flap. This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical characteristics of the SA in a select donor cohort housed at our institution.

This cohort consisted of 19 adult human donor cadavers (n = 38; age range: 52-99 years) used for anatomy education and research. The submental regions were dissected to document the anatomical parameters of the SA's origin, course, length, diameter, and morphology.

The population consisted of 52.6% males and 47.4% females. Bilaterally, the SA originated from the facial artery in all donors and pierced the mylohyoid muscle in 94.7% of the cadavers. On the right side, the artery coursed deep to the submandibular gland (SMG) in 68.4% of cases, superficial in 21.1%, and pierced the gland in 5.3% of cases. On the left side, the SA lay deep to the SMG in 73.6% of cases, superficial to the SMG in 21.1%, and had a piercing course in 5.3%. The dominant morphology of the SA was tortuous on the right (56.2%) and linear on the left side of the face (50%). No significant mean differences were observed in the diameters (1.87 ± 0.32 mm) or lengths (34.88 ± 7.08 mm) of the SA on both sides.

These findings highlight the anatomical variability of the SA, which is crucial for improving surgical outcomes in the submental region.