mental vein

The mental vein is a vein that drains blood from the chin and lower lip, emptying into the facial vein as one of its tributaries.

The mental vein is located in the chin and lower lip region, emerging near the mental foramen of the mandible and coursing superiorly to join the facial vein on the lower face.

The mental vein is involved in collecting and returning deoxygenated blood from the soft tissues of the chin and lower lip to the facial venous drainage system.

Facial cellulitis involving the chin, lower lip injuries, mandibular cysts or tumors near the mental foramen, or facial venous thrombophlebitis may be associated with the mental vein.

The mental vein may be assessed through clinical inspection of the chin region, Doppler ultrasound of the facial veins, or CT and MRI imaging of the lower face and mandible during evaluation of facial soft tissue pathology.