Inferior labial artery

Inferior labial artery (old name: inferior coronary artery) is one of the facial branches of the facial artery. It is smaller than the superior labial artery. It supplies the lower lip, including its labial glands, mucous membranes and muscles.

Summary

• origin: facial branch of the facial artery, arising just proximal to the superior labial artery, lateral to the angle of the mouth
• course: it passes superiorly and anteriorly, behind the depressor anguli oris muscle, before piercing the orbicularis oris muscle, and taking a meandering path between the muscle and the labial mucous membrane along the superior edge of the lower lip, close to the wet line
• branches: none
• termination: anastomosis with the contralateral inferior labial artery and the mental branch of the inferior alveolar artery