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The submandibular gland, historically known as the submaxillary gland, is a major salivary gland located beneath the floor of the mouth. It is the second-largest of the three main salivary glands, including the parotid and sublingual glands. The submandibular gland is situated within the submandibular triangle, which is a suprahyoid deep compartment of the head and neck. The gland has a superficial and deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The main function of the submandibular gland is to produce saliva, which helps lubricate the oral cavity and aids in the chemical digestion of food.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The submaxillary muscle is located in the floor of the mouth, just beneath the tongue. |
| Origin and Insertion | This muscle originates from the mandible (lower jaw bone) and inserts onto the hyoid bone in the neck. |
| Innervation | The submaxillary muscle is innervated by the mylohyoid nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). |
| Blood Supply | It receives its blood supply from the submental artery, a branch of the facial artery. |
| Function | The primary function of the submaxillary muscle is to depress the mandible and open the jaw, playing a role in chewing and speech. It also aids in swallowing by raising the hyoid bone and larynx during the act of swallowing. |
| Attachments | The muscle is attached to the mandible via its anterior belly and to the hyoid bone via its posterior belly. |
| Size | In humans, the submaxillary muscle is typically small and thin, with a variable appearance. |
| Clinical Significance | Due to its proximity to other structures in the neck and mouth, the submaxillary muscle can be involved in various clinical conditions. These include submandibular gland infections (sialadenitis), stone formation in the submandibular gland, and even oral or neck cancers. |
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What You'll Learn
The submandibular gland is a salivary gland
The submandibular gland, historically known as the submaxillary gland, is a salivary gland. It is the second largest of the three main salivary glands, including the parotid and sublingual glands. The submandibular glands are paired with major salivary glands in the submandibular triangle. The submandibular triangle is an anatomic region in the anterior triangle of the neck.
The submandibular glands develop bilaterally from epithelial buds in the sulcus surrounding the sublingual folds on the floor of the primitive mouth. The submandibular gland occurs within the submandibular triangle, situated posteroinferior to the ramus of the mandible, and between the two bellies of the digastric muscle. The submandibular salivary glands develop later than the parotid glands and appear late in the sixth week of prenatal development.
The submandibular gland is surrounded by a capsule, which is part of the superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia. The gland subdivides into superficial and deep lobes, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The larger superficial lobe 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. The duct then crosses paths medially with the lingual nerve while travelling superiorly, eventually opening into the oral cavity at the sublingual caruncle.
The submandibular gland produces approximately 60-70% of saliva in the unstimulated state. However, once the salivary glands become stimulated, the parotid gland produces more than 50% of the saliva. The submandibular gland is a mixed gland, composed of serous and mucous acini, as well as seromucous glands called serous demilunes. The mucous cells are the most active, and the main product of the submandibular glands is saliva, which is mucoid in nature. Mucous cells secrete mucin, which aids in the lubrication of the food bolus as it travels through the oesophagus.
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It is located in the submandibular triangle
The submandibular gland is located in the submandibular triangle. This is a suprahyoid deep compartment of the head and neck. The submandibular triangle 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 part of the superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia. The submandibular gland is the second largest of the three main salivary glands, including the parotid and sublingual glands.
The submandibular glands are a pair of major salivary glands, each with its own excretory duct, known as the submandibular duct or Wharton's duct. The submandibular duct is approximately 5cm long and 1.5mm in diameter. It emerges from the deep arm of the gland and opens 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 has two components, a superficial and a deep lobe, separated by the mylohyoid muscle. The superficial lobe comprises most of the gland, with the mylohyoid muscle running underneath it. The submandibular gland is a mixed gland, made up of serous and mucous acini, and seromucous glands called serous demilunes. The mucous cells are the most active, producing saliva that is mucoid in nature.
The submandibular gland is an important structure in the head and neck region, contributing significantly to saliva production and oral cavity lubrication. It is also associated with various physiological and pathological processes, such as sialolithiasis and neoplasia, making its location in the submandibular triangle clinically significant.
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The submandibular duct is also known as Wharton's duct
The submaxillary muscle is the historical name for the muscle now known as the mylohyoid muscle. This muscle is located in the submandibular space, a suprahyoid deep compartment of the head and neck. The submandibular space is a fascial space, sometimes also termed a tissue space. It is located on the superficial surface of the mylohyoid muscle, between the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric muscle.
The submandibular duct, also known as Wharton's duct, is one of the salivary excretory ducts. It is about 5 cm long, with a diameter of approximately 1-3 mm. The submandibular duct was initially described by the English anatomist Thomas Wharton (1614-73) and is sometimes referreded to by his name. The duct allows the passage of saliva from the submandibular gland into the oral cavity. It emerges from the deep part of the submandibular gland, a salivary gland, and runs forward between the mylohyoid, hyoglossus, and genioglossus muscles. The submandibular duct drains saliva from each bilateral submandibular gland and sublingual gland to the sublingual caruncle in the floor of the mouth.
The submandibular gland occurs within the submandibular triangle. It is situated posteroinferior to the ramus of the mandible, and between the two bellies of the digastric muscle. The submandibular salivary glands develop later than the parotid glands and appear late in the sixth week of prenatal development. The submandibular gland can be classified by the microscopic anatomy of its secretory cells and how they are arranged. Because the glands are branched, and because the tubules forming the branches contain secretory cells, submandibular glands are classified as branched tubuloacinar glands.
The submandibular duct is the terminal part of the submandibular gland and is located in the mouth floor. The position of the duct and its ostium are symmetric but unpredictable, which can make the submandibular duct papillae challenging to recognize. The submandibular duct may be duplicated on one side or both sides, creating an accessory submandibular duct.
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The submandibular space is a suprahyoid deep compartment
The submandibular space extends from the hyoid bone to the floor of the mouth and is bordered anterolaterally by the mandible and inferiorly by the superficial layer of deep cervical fascia. The submandibular space contains important structures such as the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, submandibular and submental lymph nodes, facial artery and vein, and the inferior loop of the hypoglossal nerve.
The submandibular space is also referred to as the submylohyoid or submaxillary space, especially when including the submental and sublingual spaces as separate compartments. The submental space is located medial to the paired submandibular spaces and is separated from them by the anterior bellies of the digastric muscles. The sublingual space, also known as the supramylohyoid compartment, is located above the mylohyoid muscle.
Infections in the submandibular space can have serious consequences, such as Ludwig's angina, which involves the submandibular, sublingual, and submental spaces bilaterally and can lead to difficulty in breathing. Signs and symptoms of a submandibular space infection include trismus (difficulty opening the mouth), inability to palpate the inferior border of the mandible, and swelling of the face over the submandibular region.
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The submandibular gland is the second-largest salivary gland
The submandibular gland, historically known as the submaxillary gland, is the second-largest of the three main salivary glands, including the parotid and sublingual glands. They are major salivary glands located beneath the floor of the mouth. The submandibular glands are relatively small, paired, irregular structures, each weighing around 10 to 15 grams. They are situated in the ipsilateral submandibular fossa, which are triangular depressions found bilaterally on the medial surfaces of the body of the mandible.
The submandibular gland occurs within the submandibular triangle, specifically in its anterior part, and is surrounded by a capsule. The gland 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 also surrounded by the submandibular space, a suprahyoid deep compartment of the head and neck that encompasses the gland and surrounding structures. This space is a potential space, paired on either side, and located on the superficial surface of the mylohyoid muscle between the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric muscle.
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’s primary 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, eventually opening into the oral cavity. Secretions from the submandibular glands travel through this duct into the oral cavity, contributing to saliva production.
The submandibular gland is composed of mucinous and serous acini, with serous acini predominating. However, the mucous cells are more active, producing a slightly thicker fluid. The main function of the submandibular glands is to produce saliva, which helps lubricate the oral cavity and aids in the chemical digestion of food. The saliva also coats the food bolus, making it easier to swallow. Additionally, the submandibular gland has immunoregulatory properties and plays a role in controlling inflammation.
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Frequently asked questions
The submaxillary muscle is more commonly known as the submandibular gland. This is a major salivary gland located beneath the floor of the mouth.
The submaxillary muscle is responsible for the production of saliva, which helps to lubricate the mouth and aids in the chemical digestion of food.
The submaxillary muscle is located within the submandibular triangle, an anatomic region of the head and neck. It is situated between the mandible and hyoid bone.
The submaxillary muscle contributes to the production of saliva, which helps with swallowing, initiating digestion, pH buffering, and dental hygiene.
