ANATOMY OF THE ARTERIAL VASCULARIZATION OF THE LIPS

The findings from 12 dissections of previously injected facial masks, 8 dissections of the face following intraarterial injection of a red s olution of Latex Neoprene, and a corrosion cast specimen allowed us to study the arterial supply of the lips. The arterial supply of the upp er lip arises mainly from the superior labial arteries, but also from the subseptal arteries and from the subalar arteries. There is a figur e of 8 shaped anastomotic system between these arteries lying on the u pper lip. The arterial supply of the lower lip arises from the inferio r labial arteries and from branches of the mental artery. A constant i nferior labial arterial network was shown at the level of the lower li p arising in a fifth of cases from a T-shaped inferior labial artery. All these recent anatomic findings help us to improve our understandin g of plastic surgery of the lips.