As seen in the picture, it travels superiorly in a tortuous course along the under (ventral) surface of the tongue, below the longitudinalis inferior, and above the mucous membrane.

It lies on the lateral side of the genioglossus, the main large extrinsic tongue muscle, accompanied by the lingual nerve.

At the tip of the tongue, it is said to anastomose with the artery of the opposite side,[1] but this is denied by Hyrtl.

[3] It supplies the gland and gives branches to the mylohyoideus and neighboring muscles, and to the mucous membrane of the mouth and gums.

[7] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 553 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918) ocular group: central retinal