[Anatomic characteristics and relationship of lingual artery and hypoglossal nerve with tongue base].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomic characteristics of lingual artery and hypoglossal nerve and relationship between lingual artery and hypoglossal nerve in tongue base, for the purpose of improving data with clinic and increasing safety in the operation of tongue base. METHOD: Twenty extraoral dissections of the submandibular region were performed on 10 human cadavers. The origin and distribution of lingual artery and hypoglossal nerve were observed: (1) The lingual artery was divided into four segments, length and adjacent organs were observed and measured; (2) The hypoglossal nerve length and adjacent organs were observed and measured; (3) The anatomic relationship of lingual artery and hypoglossal nerve was observed and measured. RESULT: The whole length of lingual artery was (9.73 +/- 0.83)cm. At points of foramen cecum of the tongue, 1 cm prior to foramen cecum, 1 cm behind foramen cecum and at adjacent part of foramen cecum to lateral tongue, hyoid, and distances between lingual artery and lateral of the tongue were separately measured. The distances were (2.34 +/- 0.20) cm, (2.48 +/- 0.14) cm, (2.43 +/- 0.26) cm, (2.53 +/- 0.33) cm, (2.14 +/- 0.16) cm, (1.11 +/- 0.09) cm, respectively. At points of foramen cecum of the tongue, 1 cm prior to foramen cecum, 1 cm behind foramen cecum and at adjacent part of hyoid, lateral tongue, and distance between hypoglossal nerve and midline of the inner mandible were separately measured. The distances were(2.28 +/- 0.14) cm, (2.36 +/- 0.16) cm, (2.34 +/- 0.21 ) cm, (1.25 +/- 0.42) cm, (1.86 +/- 0.32) cm, (2.64 +/- 0.28) cm, respectively. The position of the tongue base, lingual artery and hypoglossal nerve are significantly inferior and lateral, that is, 2 cm inferior and (1.11 +/- 0.09) cm lateral to the foramen cecum; (2.08 +/- 0.33) cm medial to the inner mandible. CONCLUSION: This inferior lateral location-'V' type- allows the potential for aggression tongue base resection without neurovascular bundle compromise. To ensure the operating safety, the depth and angle of radiofrequency of the tongue base for OSAHS should be controlled.