LINGUAL ARTERY

lingual artery
- first part
  - in the carotid triangle
  - forms a charecteristic upward loop
    - crossed by hypoglossal nerve
    - permits free movements of hyoid bone
- second part
  - deep to hyoglossus muscle
    - along upper border of hyoid bone
  - superficial to middle constrictor of pharynx
- third part
  - arteria profunda linguae or deep lingual artery
  - runs upwards along anterior border of hyoglossus
    - horizontally forwards on undersurface of tongue
      - accompanied by lingual nerve
  - vertical course
    - it lies between
      - genioglossus medially
      - inferior longitudinal muscle of tongue laterally
- fourth part
- BRANCHES
  - suprahyoid
  - dorsal lingual
  - sublingual
- Clinical
  - surgical removal of tongue
    - first part of artery is ligated before it gives any branch to tongue