Introduction A major salivary gland • S ituated in the anterior part of digastric triangle in submandibular region • about the size of walnut (15-20 gm) • roughly ‘J’- shaped • composed of a mixture of serous and mucous acini
Roughly ‘J’- shaped being indented by posterior border of mylohyoid muscle which divides into • superficial part • deep part
COVERING OR CAPSULE The gland is partially enclosed between two layers of deep cervical fascia . The superficial layer of fascia covers the inferior surface of the gland and is attached to the base of the mandible. The deep layer covers the medial surface of the gland and is attacched to the mylohyoid line of the mandible
Superficial Part This part fills the digastric triangle extends upwards deep to the mandible up to the mylohyoid muscle Superficial part presents Two ends : Anterior end. Posterior end. Three Surfaces- 1.Inferior . 2.Lateral. 3.Medial
The anterior end extends up to the anterior belly of digastric muscle. The posterior end extends upto stylomandibular ligament,which seprates the submandibular gland from the parotid gland.This end presents a groove produced by ascending limb of the cervical loop of facial artery.
RELATIONS inferior surface is covered by skin platysma muscle cervical branch of facial nerve facial vein deep fascia submandibular lymph nodes
Lateral surface is related to submandibular fossa on the mandible insertion of medial pterygoid facial artery
medial surface is divided into three parts anterior part - related to mylohyoid muscles, nerve and vessels middle part - related to hyoglossus , styloglossus , lingual nerve,submandibular ganglion and hypoglossal nerve posterior part - related to styloglossus , stylohyoid ligament, the ninth nerve, and the wall of pharynx.
Deep part The deep part is small and lies on the hyoglossus muscle deep to the mylohyoid;posteriorly it is continous with superficial part around the posterior border of the mylohyoid , and anteriorly it extends up to the sublingual salivary gland .
SUBMANDIBULAR DUCT/ WHARTON’S DUCT Thin walled, about 5cm long It emerges at anterior end of deep part of gland It runs forwards on the hyoglossus , between lingual and hypoglossal nerves. At the anterior border of hyoglossus , the duct is crossed by lingual nerve It opens on the floor of the mouth, on the summit of subligual papilla, at the side of frenulum of the tongue
Blood Supply supplied by facial artery veins drain into common facial or lingual vein
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE lymph passes to submandibular lymph nodes
Nerve Supply Supplied by branches from the submandibular ganglion these branches convey : secretomotor fibers sensory fibers from lingual nerve vasomotor fibers from plexus on facial artery
APPLIED ANATOMY The formation of calculi in the submandibular gland and its duct is more common than in parotid gland because of two reasons : Its secretion is more viscid. Its duct takes a tortuous and upward course, which hampers its smooth drainage into floor of mouth.
The swellings of submandibular gland can be palpated bimanually