Lower Lip Blood Supply — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateAnatomy (Head & Neck)Lower Lip Blood SupplyMFDS Part 1

In standard head and neck anatomy, which named artery usually arises from the facial artery, runs medially through the submucosa and directly supplies the lower lip?

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Correct answer: A — Inferior labial artery

The correct answer is **A, the inferior labial artery**. It is the classical named labial branch of the facial artery and runs medially within the submucosal plane of the lower lip. The arterial anatomy is variable, and the mental artery may provide an important direct contribution, but it arises from the inferior alveolar artery and is not the facial-artery branch described in the stem. The submental artery supplies the submental region and may contribute indirectly through labiomental branches. The sublingual artery principally supplies the floor of the mouth and sublingual gland. The inferior alveolar artery supplies the mandibular teeth and gives rise to the mental artery rather than serving as the named submucosal artery of the lower lip.

Reference: Kawai K et al. Arterial anatomy of the lower lip. Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery. 2004;38(3):135–139. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15259670/