Submandibular Gland

Describe submandibular gland under the following headings:
1. submandibular gland Morphology
2. submandibular gland Relations
3. submandibular gland Blood supply
4. submandibular gland Lymphatic drainage
5. submandibular gland Nerve supply
6. submandibular gland Applied anatomy

1. Submandibular Gland Morphology:

This is a large salivary gland situated in the anterior part of digastric triangle, in the submandibular region of mandible.
It extends up to stylomandibular ligament.

Division: The gland is divided by mylohyoid muscle into

1. Large superficial part, and
2. Small deep part.

Ends: It has two ends:

1. Anterior, and
2. Posterior.

Presents three surfaces

 

1. Inferior,
2. Lateral, and
3. Medial.

Read And Learn More: Face Anatomy Notes And Important Questions

2. Submandibular Gland Relations

Submandibular gland has larger superficial part and smaller deep part.

1. Superficial part

Relations of inferior surface

1. Skin,
2. Superficial fascia,
3. Platysma,
4. Deep fascia,
5. Common facial vein,
6. Cervical branch of facial nerve,
7. Submandibular lymph node.

Relations on lateral surface

1. Submandibular fossa of mandible,
2. Medial pterygoid muscle, and
3. Facial artery.

Medial surface is extensive and divided into three parts:

Deep part:

1. Laterally: Mylohyoid.
2. Medially: Hyoglossus and styloglossus.

3. Submandibular Gland Blood supply

1. Arterial supply: Glandular branch of facial artery.
2. Venous drainage: Common facial or lingual vein draining into internaljugular vein.

4. Submandibular Gland Lymphatic drainage

Submandibular lymph nodes.

5. Submandibular Gland Nerve supply

1. Secretomotor fibres

Arise from superior salivatory nucleus .

1. Preganglionic fibres pass through facial nerve>chorda tympani> lingual nerve>submandibular ganglion.
2. Post-ganglionic fibres arise from ganglion and enter submandibular gland.
3. Sensory fibres reach the ganglion through lingual nerve, branch of mandibularnerve.
4. Sympathetic fibres arise from superior cervical sympathetic ganglion. These fires do not relay in the submandibular ganglion.

6. Submandibular Gland Applied anatomy

1. The mandibular branch of facial nerve is closely related to the angle of jaw.
   The submandibular gland is excised by an incision 1″ below the angle of jaw.
2. The secretion of the submandibular gland is more viscous; hence, the incidence of calculi is more common in the submandibular gland.
3. A stone in the submandibular duct (Wharton’s duct) can be palpated bimanually in the floor of the mouth and can even be seen, if sufficiently large.