inferior alveolar artery

inferior alveolar artery, an artery that descends with the inferior alveolar nerve from the first or mandibular portion of the maxillary artery to the mandibular foramen on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible. It enters the mandibular canal and continues to the first premolar tooth, where it divides into the mental and incisor branches. Also called arteria alveolaris inferior.