Submandibular gland
Updates to Article Attributes
The submandibular glands (historically also known as the submaxillary glands) are paired salivary glands located behind and below the ramus of the mandible in the submandibular triangle. They secrete mixed serous and mucous saliva that is excreted into the oral cavity via the submandibular duct that connects the gland to the floor of the mouth.
Gross anatomy
Its lower superficial lobe continues as smaller deep lobe by wrapping around the posterior border of the mylohyoid. The superficial lobe of the submandibular gland is in the submandibular space, and the deep lobe is situated in the sublingual space where it can be palpated intraorally. Posteriorly it is separated from the parotid gland by the stylomandibular ligament.
Autonomic innervation is from the lingual nerve via the submandibular ganglion with parasympathetic fibres arising from the chorda tympani and sympathetic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion.
It is encapsulated during development and does not normally contain lymph nodes. There is a fibrous capsule surrounding the gland, formed by the split layers of the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia.
The submandibular gland is supplied mainly by the facial, lingual, and submental artery, It drains into the facial and submental veins.
Relations
CervicalThe cervical branch of the facial nerve and and facial vein are its superficial relations to the inferior surface of the superficial lobe. The facial artery grooves grooves posterosuperiorly to the gland and descends to the inferior border of the mandible, where it can be palpated, and to ascend in front of the masseter muscle.
The deep part of the gland extends forwards and lies between mylohyoid inferolaterally inferolaterally, and hyoglossus and and styloglossus medially medially.
Arterial Supply
The submandibular gland is supplied mainly by the facial, lingual, and submental artery,
Venous drainage
It drains into the facial and submental veins.
Innervation
Autonomic innervation is from the lingual nerve via the submandibular ganglion with parasympathetic fibres arising from the chorda tympani and sympathetic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion.
Variant anatomy
- congenital absence +/- contralateral submandibular gland hypertrophy 4
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>submandibular glands</strong> (historically also known as the <strong>submaxillary glands</strong>) are paired <a href="/articles/salivary-glands">salivary glands</a> located behind and below the ramus of the mandible in the submandibular triangle. They secrete mixed serous and mucous saliva that is excreted into the <a href="/articles/oral-cavity-1">oral cavity</a> via the <a href="/articles/submandibular-duct">submandibular duct</a> that connects the gland to the floor of the mouth.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>Its lower superficial lobe continues as smaller deep lobe by wrapping around the posterior border of the <a href="/articles/mylohyoid-muscle">mylohyoid</a>. The superficial lobe of the submandibular gland is in the <a href="/articles/submandibular-space">submandibular space</a>, and the deep lobe is situated in the <a href="/articles/sublingual-space-1">sublingual space</a> where it can be palpated intraorally. Posteriorly it is separated from the <a href="/articles/parotid-gland">parotid gland</a> by the <a href="/articles/stylomandibular-ligament">stylomandibular ligament</a>.</p><p>Autonomic innervation is from the <a href="/articles/lingual-nerve">lingual nerve</a> via the <a href="/articles/submandibular-ganglion">submandibular ganglion</a> with parasympathetic fibres arising from the <a href="/articles/chorda-tympani">chorda tympani </a>and sympathetic fibres from the <a href="/articles/sympathetic-chain-1">superior cervical ganglion</a>.</p><p>It is encapsulated during development and does not normally contain lymph nodes. There is a fibrous capsule surrounding the gland, formed by the split layers of the investing layer of the <a href="/articles/deep-cervical-fascia">deep cervical fascia</a>.</p><p>The submandibular gland is supplied mainly by the <a href="/articles/facial-artery">facial</a>, <a href="/articles/lingual-artery">lingual</a>, and <a href="/articles/submental-artery">submental artery</a>, It drains into the <a href="/articles/facial-vein">facial</a> and submental veins.</p><h5>Relations</h5><p>Cervical branch of the <a href="/articles/facial-nerve">facial nerve</a> and facial vein are its superficial relations to the inferior surface of the superficial lobe. The <a href="/articles/facial-artery">facial artery</a> grooves posterosuperiorly to the gland and descends to the inferior border of the mandible, where it can be palpated, and to ascend in front of the masseter muscle.</p><p>The deep part of the gland extends forwards and lies between <a href="/articles/mylohyoid-muscle">mylohyoid</a> inferolaterally, and <a href="/articles/hyoglossus-muscle">hyoglossus</a> and <a href="/articles/styloglossus-muscle">styloglossus</a> medially.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/sialolithiasis">sialolithiasis</a></li></ul>- +<p>The <strong>submandibular glands</strong> (historically also known as the <strong>submaxillary glands</strong>) are paired <a href="/articles/salivary-glands">salivary glands</a> located behind and below the ramus of the mandible in the submandibular triangle. They secrete mixed serous and mucous saliva that is excreted into the <a href="/articles/oral-cavity-1">oral cavity</a> via the <a href="/articles/submandibular-duct">submandibular duct</a> that connects the gland to the <a title="Floor of the mouth" href="/articles/floor-of-mouth">floor of mouth</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>Its lower superficial lobe continues as smaller deep lobe by wrapping around the posterior border of the <a href="/articles/mylohyoid-muscle">mylohyoid</a>. The superficial lobe of the submandibular gland is in the <a href="/articles/submandibular-space">submandibular space</a>, and the deep lobe is situated in the <a href="/articles/sublingual-space-1">sublingual space</a> where it can be palpated intraorally. Posteriorly it is separated from the <a href="/articles/parotid-gland">parotid gland</a> by the <a href="/articles/stylomandibular-ligament">stylomandibular ligament</a>.</p><p>It is encapsulated during development and does not normally contain lymph nodes. There is a fibrous capsule surrounding the gland, formed by the split layers of the investing layer of the <a href="/articles/deep-cervical-fascia">deep cervical fascia</a>.</p><h5>Relations</h5><p>The cervical branch of the <a href="/articles/facial-nerve">facial nerve</a> and facial vein are its superficial relations to the inferior surface of the superficial lobe. The <a href="/articles/facial-artery">facial artery</a> grooves posterosuperiorly to the gland and descends to the inferior border of the mandible, where it can be palpated, and to ascend in front of the masseter muscle.</p><p>The deep part of the gland extends forwards and lies between <a href="/articles/mylohyoid-muscle">mylohyoid</a> inferolaterally, and <a href="/articles/hyoglossus-muscle">hyoglossus</a> and <a href="/articles/styloglossus-muscle">styloglossus</a> medially.</p><h4>Arterial Supply</h4><p>The submandibular gland is supplied mainly by the <a href="/articles/facial-artery">facial</a>, <a href="/articles/lingual-artery">lingual</a>, and <a href="/articles/submental-artery">submental artery</a>,</p><h4>Venous drainage</h4><p>It drains into the <a href="/articles/facial-vein">facial</a> and submental veins.</p><h4>Innervation</h4><p>Autonomic innervation is from the <a href="/articles/lingual-nerve">lingual nerve</a> via the <a href="/articles/submandibular-ganglion">submandibular ganglion</a> with parasympathetic fibres arising from the <a href="/articles/chorda-tympani">chorda tympani </a>and sympathetic fibres from the <a href="/articles/sympathetic-nervous-system-1">superior cervical ganglion</a>.</p><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li>congenital absence +/- contralateral submandibular gland hypertrophy <sup>4</sup>
- +</li></ul><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/sialolithiasis">sialolithiasis</a></li></ul>
References changed:
- 1. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781451119459 - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9781451119459">Google Books</a>
- 2. Last, R. J., McMinn, R. M. H.. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. (1994) ISBN: 044304662X - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN044304662X">Google Books</a>
- 3. Li L, Gao X, Song Y et al. Anatomy of Arteries and Veins of Submandibular Glands. Chin Med J (Engl). 2007;120(13):1179-82. - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17637249">Pubmed</a>
- 4. A. Srinivasan, J.S. Moyer, S.K. Mukherji. Unilateral Submandibular Gland Aplasia Associated with Ipsilateral Sublingual Gland Hypertrophy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;27(10):2214-6. - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17110697">Pubmed</a>
- 1. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1451119453">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451119453">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 2. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN044304662X">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/044304662X">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 3. Li L, Gao XL, Song YZ, Xu H, Yu GY, Zhu ZH, Liu JM. Anatomy of arteries and veins of submandibular glands. (2007) Chinese medical journal. 120 (13): 1179-82. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17637249">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
Image 2 CT (C+ portal venous phase) ( create )
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.