title: Composition of the blood supply in the sublingual and submandibular spaces and its relationship to the lateral lingual foramen of the mandible.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research was to contribute to minimizing arterial disruption during mandibular surgical procedures by clarifying the course of the arteries supplying the sublingual and submental regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heads of 75 human cadavers were dissected to identify the arterial supply of the sublingual and submental regions. Computed tomography scans were performed to visualize the lateral lingual foramina of the mandibles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The facial artery was found to contribute to the composition of almost half of the sublingual arteries studied. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the arterial supply to an incisor tooth is often from the submental artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide important information for coping with bleeding or hematoma occurring during surgical procedures in the mandibular region.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: kohnaka@dent.showa-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Koh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagaya
authors.affiliation: Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otonari-Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.affiliation: Professor, Oral Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed