Submandibular gland
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View Jeremy Jones's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Yoshi Yu had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Yoshi Yu's current disclosures- Submandibular glands
- Submandibular salivary gland
- Submaxillary gland
- Submaxillary glands
- Submaxillary salivary gland
The submandibular glands (historically also known as the submaxillary glands) are one of the three paired major salivary glands, located inferior and posterior to the body of the mandible, in the submandibular (digastric) triangle. They secrete mixed serous and mucous saliva into the oral cavity via the submandibular duct that opens at the floor of the mouth 5.
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Gross anatomy
The submandibular gland is U-shaped, wrapping around the posterior border of the mylohyoid muscle. It is divided into a superficial (inferior) and deep (superior) part by the plane of the mylohyoid.
The superficial part is larger and lies horizontally, below the mylohyoid muscle. It projects forward to lie on the submandibular fossa, a shallow groove on the internal surface of the mandible. It is situated in the submandibular space.
The deep part of the gland is smaller and loops around the posterior border of the mylohyoid to lie within the sublingual space, lateral to the root of the tongue.
The submandibular gland is separated from the parotid gland by the stylomandibular ligament.
The gland is surrounded by a fibrous capsule, formed by the split layers of the superficial (investing) layer of the deep cervical fascia. It does not usually contain lymph nodes as it is encapsulated early during development.
The submandibular duct emerges from the deep part of the gland medially, before coursing forward to open at the papilla, lateral to the frenulum of the tongue.
Relations
The marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve and facial vein is superficial and inferior to the gland.
The facial artery travels deep to the gland posterosuperiorly, before curving around the inferior border of the mandible to travel superficially and anterior to the masseter muscle.
The deep part of the gland extends forwards and lies between the mylohyoid inferolaterally (floor of the mouth), and hyoglossus and styloglossus medially (root of the tongue). The hypoglossal nerve travels in between the gland and the hyoglossus.
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 fibers arising from the chorda tympani and sympathetic fibers from the superior cervical ganglion.
Variant anatomy
congenital absence +/- contralateral submandibular gland hypertrophy 4
Related pathology
References
- 1. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781451119459 - Google Books
- 2. Last, R. J., McMinn, R. M. H.. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. (1994) ISBN: 044304662X - Google Books
- 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. - Pubmed
- 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. - Pubmed
- 5. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) Page 24. ISBN: 9780702029714 - Google Books
- 6. Richard Drake, A. Wayne Vogl, Adam W. M. Mitchell. Gray's Anatomy for Students E-Book. (2019) ISBN: 9780323611053 - Google Books
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