Logan Steele
The submandibular gland is a salivary gland located in the submandibular triangle, underneath the mandible (lower jaw bone) and above the hyoid (tongue) bone. It is the second-largest of the three main salivary glands, which include the parotid and sublingual glands. The submandibular gland has two lobes, a superficial lobe and a deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The submandibular gland produces saliva, which has several functions including moistening the mouth, aiding in chewing and swallowing, and helping with digestion. The saliva produced also has antimicrobial properties and helps keep the mouth and teeth clean.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Submandibular triangle, underneath the mandible (lower jaw bone) and above the hyoid (tongue) bone |
| Composition | Divided into a superficial lobe and a deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle |
| Function | Produces saliva, which aids in chewing, swallowing, and digestion |
| Blood Supply | Facial artery and lingual artery |
| Innervation | Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems |
| Excretory Duct | Wharton's duct, approximately 5 cm long and 1-1.5 mm in diameter |
| Secretions | Mixed serous and mucous secretions |
| Clinical Considerations | Sialadenosis, sialolithiasis, infections, and neoplasia |
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What You'll Learn
The submandibular gland is located in the submandibular triangle
The submandibular gland is one of the three main salivary glands, along with the parotid and sublingual glands. It is the second largest of these glands, with the parotid gland being the largest. The submandibular glands are paired with major salivary glands and contribute to saliva production, which aids in the lubrication of the oral cavity and digestion. The submandibular gland produces approximately 70% of saliva when unstimulated, but the parotid gland predominates in saliva production once stimulated.
The submandibular gland has two lobes: a superficial lobe and a deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The superficial lobe is larger and lies beneath the deep cervical fascia. The submandibular gland's main excretory duct is the Wharton duct, which is approximately 5 cm long and 1.5 mm in diameter. The duct originates at the submandibular gland hilum and travels around the posterior portion of the mylohyoid muscle. It then crosses paths with the lingual nerve and ultimately drains into the sublingual caruncle, a papilla located medial to the sublingual gland and lateral to the frenulum linguae.
The submandibular gland has important functions in the body, including the production of saliva and the protection against bacteria. The gland's secretory acinar cells have distinct roles, with mucous cells producing mucin for lubrication and serous cells producing salivary amylase for starch breakdown. The submandibular gland is also associated with lymph nodes, which are located adjacent to the submandibular triangle. These lymph nodes are important in the treatment of cancer, as malignant tumors may drain into them, requiring neck dissection for complete cancer treatment.
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The submandibular gland produces saliva
The submandibular gland is one of the three major salivary glands, alongside the parotid and sublingual glands. It is located within the submandibular triangle, beneath the floor of the mouth. The submandibular gland is responsible for producing saliva, which helps to keep the mouth moist and clean, aiding in digestion and protecting the teeth from bacteria.
The submandibular gland has two lobes: a superficial lobe and a deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The superficial lobe comprises most of the gland. The submandibular gland's primary excretory duct is the Wharton duct, which is approximately 5 cm long and 1.5 mm in diameter. The Wharton duct originates at the submandibular gland hilum and travels around the posterior portion of the mylohyoid muscle before opening into the oral cavity at the sublingual caruncle.
The submandibular gland produces approximately 70% of saliva in the unstimulated state. However, during stimulation, the parotid gland takes over as the predominant saliva producer, contributing more than 50% of saliva. The submandibular gland's secretions are a mix of serous and mucous types, with the mucous cells being more active. The mucous cells secrete mucin, which lubricates food during mastication and aids in digestion. Meanwhile, the serous cells produce salivary amylase, which helps break down starches in the mouth.
The submandibular gland plays a crucial role in regulating systemic inflammatory responses and modulating systemic immune and inflammatory reactions. It releases factors such as the submandibular gland peptide-T (SGP-T), which has immunoregulatory properties and helps control inflammation. However, the submandibular gland is also associated with the development of salivary duct calculi (salivary stones or sialolith), accounting for approximately 80% of cases. This may be due to the nature of the saliva produced and the tortuous travel of the submandibular duct to its ductal opening.
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The submandibular duct is also called the Wharton duct
The submandibular gland is the second-largest of the three main salivary glands, with the other two being the parotid and sublingual glands. It is located in the posterior portion of the submandibular triangle, which is formed by the body of the mandible superiorly, the anterior belly of the digastric muscle medially, and the posterior belly of the digastric muscle inferiorly and laterally. The submandibular gland is surrounded by a capsule, which is a part of the superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia.
The submandibular gland has a superficial and deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The larger superficial lobe lies beneath the deep cervical fascia. The submandibular gland produces the most saliva (approximately 70%) in an unstimulated state. However, during salivary gland stimulation, the parotid gland produces more than 50% of the saliva. The submandibular gland's secretory acinar cells have distinct functions. The mucous cells are the most active, and the major product of the submandibular glands is saliva, which is mucoid in nature. Mucous cells secrete mucin, which aids in the lubrication of food as it travels through the oesophagus.
The submandibular duct, also called the Wharton duct, is the submandibular gland's primary excretory duct. It was initially described by English anatomist Thomas Wharton (1614-73) and is sometimes referred to by his name. The Wharton duct is approximately 5 cm long and 1.5 mm in diameter. It originates at the submandibular gland hilum and travels around the posterior portion of the mylohyoid muscle. The duct then crosses paths medially with the lingual nerve while travelling superiorly, eventually opening into the oral cavity at the sublingual caruncle. The sublingual caruncle is a papilla located medial to the sublingual gland and lateral to each side of the frenulum linguae.
The submandibular duct allows the passage of saliva from the submandibular gland into the oral cavity. The duct emerges from the deep part of the submandibular gland and opens at the sublingual papilla at either side of the base of the frenulum of the tongue. The submandibular duct may be duplicated on one side or both sides, creating an accessory submandibular duct.
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The submandibular gland is a mixed serous and mucous gland
The submandibular gland is a major salivary gland located beneath the floor of the mouth. It is the second-largest of the three main salivary glands, which also include the parotid and sublingual glands. The submandibular glands are paired with the major salivary glands in the submandibular triangle. The submandibular glands have a superficial and deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The superficial lobe makes up most of the gland.
The submandibular gland's highly active acini account for most of the salivary volume. In the unstimulated state, it produces approximately 70% of saliva. However, during stimulation, the parotid gland takes over and produces more than 50% of the saliva. The submandibular gland's primary excretory duct is the Wharton duct, which is approximately 5 cm long and 1.5 mm in diameter. The Wharton duct originates at the submandibular gland hilum and travels around the posterior portion of the mylohyoid muscle before opening into the oral cavity at the sublingual caruncle.
The submandibular gland is an important structure in the head and neck region. It has a close anatomical relationship with three principal nerves: the lingual nerve, hypoglossal nerve, and facial nerve. Additionally, benign and malignant tumours can develop in the submandibular gland, and it is susceptible to inflammation and the formation of salivary stones.
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The submandibular gland is the second largest of the three main salivary glands
The submandibular gland is the second-largest of the three main salivary glands. It is situated in the submandibular triangle, underneath the mandible (lower jawbone) and above the hyoid (tongue) bone. The submandibular salivary glands develop later than the parotid glands, appearing in the sixth week of prenatal development. They develop bilaterally from epithelial buds in the sulcus surrounding the sublingual folds on the floor of the primitive mouth.
The submandibular gland has two lobes, a superficial lobe and a deep lobe, which are separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The superficial lobe is the larger of the two, and most of the gland is made up of this lobe. The smaller deep lobe wraps around the posterior border of the mylohyoid. The submandibular gland is surrounded by a capsule, which is part of the superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia.
The submandibular gland produces approximately 70% of the saliva in the unstimulated state. However, once the salivary glands become stimulated, the parotid gland takes over and produces more than 50% of the saliva. The submandibular gland's secretory acinar cells have distinct functions. The mucous cells are the most active, and their primary product is mucin, which aids in the lubrication of food as it travels through the oesophagus. The serous cells produce salivary amylase, which helps to break down starches in the mouth.
The submandibular duct, also known as Wharton's duct, is the excretory duct of the gland. It is approximately 5cm long and 1.5mm in diameter. The duct drains saliva from the glands at the base of the tongue, into the oral cavity at the sublingual caruncle. The sublingual caruncle is a papilla located medial to the sublingual gland and lateral to each side of the frenulum linguae. The submandibular gland and duct share an anatomical relationship with three principal nerves: the lingual nerve, the hypoglossal nerve, and the facial nerve.
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Frequently asked questions
The submandibular gland is one of three pairs of salivary glands in the submandibular triangle, underneath the mandible (lower jaw bone) and above the hyoid (tongue) bone.
The submandibular gland produces saliva, which is important for keeping the mouth moist, aiding in chewing, swallowing and digestion, and helping to keep the teeth clean.
The submandibular duct, also called the Wharton duct, is the excretory duct of the submandibular gland. It drains saliva from the glands at the base of the tongue.
Anicin et al. described four different types of submandibular gland papillae (types A, B, C, and D) based on the macroscopic appearance of the papillae and a sialoendoscopic approach.
