Anterior perspective of the Superior Labial Artery

Description

Centered on the upper lip, the superior labial artery branches from the facial artery near the angle of the mouth and courses medially within the substance of the orbicularis oris, running parallel to the superior vermilion border. Anteriorly, it lies inferior to the nasal ala and septum and superior to the maxillary incisors, with small ascending branches toward the columella and lateral nasal region and perforators to the labial mucosa. The paired right and left vessels approach the midline and commonly anastomose, creating a transverse arterial arcade across the philtrum. Bony landmarks of the skull and maxilla provide orientation behind the superficial vascular network. For clinicians, this artery is the working vessel of upper lip hemostasis and reconstruction. Its variable caliber and relationship to the oral commissure matter during cleft lip repair, lip wedge excision, and Abbe or Estlander flap planning, where preserving the labial arterial arcade supports flap perfusion and limits vermilion ischemia. It is also a frequent source of brisk bleeding in upper lip lacerations and iatrogenic injury during cosmetic filler placement, where inadvertent intra-arterial injection can compromise perfusion of the upper lip and nasal tip via anastomoses with lateral nasal branches. Use it in head and neck anatomy teaching to anchor the facial artery’s terminal branching pattern and to contrast arterial and venous pathways across the lips and midface. The illustration also suits surgical atlases, emergency medicine procedure guides, and patient-facing risk discussions for perioral injectables where a clear anterior road map of the superior labial artery reduces ambiguity. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.