Cervicomental Angle
Pronunciation: ser-vih-koh-MEN-tal
The angle formed at the junction of the submental (under-chin) and anterior neck contour on lateral view, used as an aesthetic measurement of jawline and neck definition.
Full Definition
The cervicomental angle is the angle measured between the line from the mentum (chin tip) to the submental region and the line from the submental region to the thyroid cartilage, as viewed in lateral profile. An aesthetically desirable cervicomental angle is generally considered to be between 105° and 120°; angles outside this range may indicate submental fat excess, platysmal banding, or skeletal hypoplasia. In aesthetic dermatology, it is a key parameter for planning submental fat reduction procedures including deoxycholic acid injections and cryolipolysis. Editors must ensure the term is not split as 'cervico-mental angle' unless the publication style requires hyphenation of Latin-root combining forms. It should not be confused with 'mentocervical angle,' which is used synonymously in some texts but may carry different landmark definitions.
Usage
Usage note: Preferred spelling is one word 'cervicomental' without a hyphen; verify landmark definitions if 'mentocervical angle' appears, as the two terms are used inconsistently in the literature.
In Context
- "The cervicomental angle was measured at 128° preoperatively, indicating clinically significant submental excess warranting intervention." — Aesthetic assessment documentation
- "The author alternated between 'cervicomental angle' and 'mentocervical angle'; the editor standardised to the former per journal style." — Manuscript copy-editing note