Superior labial artery

Looks like

A facial artery branch running along the upper lip just under its inner lining, meeting its partner in the middle.

What it does

Supplies the upper lip and sends a branch to the front of the nasal septum.

Keeping it well

Lip filler injected into it can block it and kill tissue; blanching or severe pain during injection needs immediate treatment.

Related conditions

• Carotid artery stenosis
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Takayasu arteritis
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)