What is the submandibular gland and where is it located?

The submandibular gland is a paired salivary gland that is mixed but predominantly serous. It is located beneath the posterior half of the mandible, weighs 10–20 g, and is about half the size of the parotid gland.

What are the two parts of the submandibular gland?

The gland has two parts: the superficial part lies superficial to the mylohyoid muscle, and the deep part lies deep to the mylohyoid muscle and is continuous posteriorly with the superficial part.

What is the submandibular duct and where does it open?

The submandibular duct (Wharton’s duct) is about 5 cm long. It runs forward on the hyoglossus muscle and opens on the summit of the sublingual papilla beside the frenulum of the tongue.

How is the submandibular gland supplied by nerves?

Nerve supply includes parasympathetic (secretomotor) from the facial nerve via the chorda tympani and lingual nerve, sympathetic from the superior cervical ganglion for vasomotor and secretomotor functions, and sensory via the lingual nerve.

What are the clinical implications of the submandibular gland?

Key clinical points include calculus formation being more common in the duct due to its upward tortuous course, the gland being bimanually palpable because it lies both above and below the mylohyoid, and surgical incisions made 4 cm below the mandible’s angle to avoid nerve injury.

What is the vascular and lymphatic supply of the submandibular gland?

The gland is supplied by submental and sublingual arteries arterially, drained by common facial and lingual veins venously, and drains lymph into submandibular lymph nodes, then jugulodigastric nodes.

Submandibular Gland – Wharton’s Duct & Stones