Anderson, last year's runner-up at Alexandra Palance, found himself two sets down and looked likely to become the third player from the world's top eight to be knocked out of the competition.
But the Scot won six of the next eight legs to force a deciding set, which saw both players miss four match darts before Anderson won a sudden-death leg in 14 darts to triumph from an enthralling contest.
"I couldn't hit a double in the first two sets and Jyhan played well to win them," admitted a relieved Anderson. "I'm very lucky to have won the match and keep my hopes alive of winning this title."
Artut, making his third consecutive appearance at Alexandra Palace, started the game by taking the opening two legs, which included a 116 checkout to win the second.
Anderson hit double top to take the third leg but the German took out 76 in the fourth to win the set and leave Anderson under early pressure.
The Scotsman missed two darts to break throw at the start of the second set, and Artut hit double top to lead.
Anderson won the second on double top but missed five chances at doubles to secure a break of throw and allowed the German to hit double four.
The fourth leg saw Artut miss four darts to win the set, but Anderson wasted four chances of his own, and the German landed double one with a pressure final dart to increase his lead.
Anderson made a bright start to the third set by taking out a 120 finish, but missed more darts at doubles to take the second, allowing Artut to level on double three.
The Premier League champion hit double top to win the third leg and then claimed the set with a two-dart 64 finish to get back into the match.
Anderson landed double five to win the first leg of the fourth set in 14 darts after Artut missed three darts at doubles, but the German hit an 82 finish to take the second against the throw.
Anderson hit his seventh 180 of the match in the process of winning the third, and a 68 finish in the next from the Scotsman confirmed that the match would go to a fifth set.
Anderson won his third leg in a row by hitting double ten before Artut landed double top to claim the second leg of the final set.
Anderson hit double five to move one leg away from the match and a brace of 140 scores at the start of the fourth put the world number four in command.
But three missed darts at doubles to win the match proved expensive as the German landed double top to stay alive.
Anderson hit double top to claim the fifth leg but was made to pay for a missed dart at the bullseye as Artut landed an excellent 102 checkout to level at three-all.
The seventh leg saw Artut leave 40 after 12 darts thrown, but the Scotsman showed his class with an 84 finish, completed on the bullseye, for a 15-dart leg to edge back in front as the tension mounted.
The German hit an excellent 13-dart leg to win the eighth, and landed double top in the next to move one leg away from victory at 5-4.
An eighth 180 put Artut in command of leg ten, but four missed darts for the match allowed Anderson in, and he hit double top with a pressure dart to force a sudden-death shoot-out.
The Scotsman claimed the advantage to throw first and a timely maximum put him to a finish ahead of Artut, and a two-dart 76 finish secured an amazing win with a 14-darter.
"I've never missed as many darts at double top and ten in a match in my life but I've got away with it," admitted Anderson.
"I gave him lots of chances and he took them in the first two sets, but I pulled it back and hit a double that I'd spent all day missing - tops - to get a sudden-death leg.
"Adrian Lewis did similar to this earlier in the tournament and he's probably lucky to still be in the tournament and it's the same for me - I've played my 'get out of jail free' card there.
"It's a wake-up call for me though and I'll be going away to practice hard over the next week because I'll have to be better in the next round. It's not been a great preparation but I'll be banging the practice board for a week now."
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