Unique origin of the inferior alveolar artery.

The inferior alveolar artery is the major blood supply to the mandible and mandibular teeth. This artery has a very consistent path, originating from the maxillary artery and passing inferiorly until it enters the mandibular foramen, accompanied by the inferior alveolar nerve and vein. During routine dissection of a 90-year-old female cadaver, a unique origin of the inferior alveolar artery was observed on the left side. The artery branched off the external carotid artery, just superior to the stylohyoid and posterior belly of the digastric muscle in the posterior region of the submandibular triangle. From its starting point the artery passed superiorly in the stylomandibular fascia and made a curving arch into the pterygomandibular space to enter the mandibular foramen with the inferior alveolar nerve. The position and branching pattern of the maxillary artery were otherwise typical. The inferior alveolar artery on the right side displayed a normal branching pattern within the infratemporal fossa. Results of surgical procedures in this area, such as sliding osteotomy of the mandible, could be impacted by this anomaly.