[Anastomosis between the left and the right lingual artery].

The aim this study was to investigate the presence of anastomosis between the left and the right lingual artery, as well as their localisation and caliber. Thirty fresh preparations of the tongue, together with the floor of the oral cavity, were investigated. The following methods were used: corrosion, Spalteholz's method, histology (hamatoxylin-eosin and Van Gieson) and radiography of micropaque injected specimens. In each of the three injected specimens (of 30 studied by all these methods) one anastomosis of 0.5 mm in the diameter, was found. Two of the three were between the suprahyoid arteries, and one between the left and the right lingual artery. In all the India ink injected specimens contralateral small vesels were filled. This suggested the presence of capillary or arteriolar anastomoses. The number of these anastomoses gradually decreased in retrocaudal direction (from the apex to the base of the tongue).