The lingual artery is a paired blood vessel which supplies the tongue. It arises from the anterior side of external carotid artery, slightly above the point of origin of the superior thyroid and below the facial artery.
The lingual artery first runs upwards, ascending over the greater horns of the hyoid bone. Then it travels forwards and medially, reaching the inferior surface of tongue. Piercing this organ, it enters deep into its muscles. Along its course, the lingual artery is covered first by the posterior belly of the digastric muscle and the stylohyoid muscle. Then it runs deeply under the hyoglossus muscle and the middle constrictor muscle of pharynx.
Branches
The lingual artery gives off the following branches: 1) suprahyoid artery, which supplies the hyoid bone and the adjoining soft tissues; 2) dorsales linguae branches, which bring oxygenated blood to the mucous membrane of tongue and the tonsil; 3) sublingual branch, supplying the sublingual gland and adjoining muscles; 4) profunda artery of tongue, which is the continuation or terminal branch of the lingual artery, conveying blood to the genioglossus muscle and the inferior longitudinal muscle of tongue, ending up in the apex of this organ.
Below, picture of neck and face (right side), showing the lingual artery as it arises from the external carotid.
