Which vessel is the primary source of bleeding when a biopsy is taken from the body of the tongue?

Correct answer: D. Deep lingual artery

• A. The facial artery supplies the face and lips — it does not directly supply the tongue body.
• B. The dorsal lingual artery supplies the dorsal surface of the tongue — it is a smaller branch.
• C. The sublingual artery supplies the floor of the mouth and sublingual gland — it is the life-threatening vessel at risk during mandibular implant placement, not tongue biopsy.
• D. The deep lingual artery is the terminal branch of the lingual artery. It runs deep along the lateral surface of the tongue and is the primary blood supply to the tongue body. It is the vessel most likely to be encountered and cause significant bleeding during a tongue biopsy. ✓