Part of the TeachMe Series

The Submandibular Gland

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Original Author(s): Jonathan Delf
Last updated: May 16, 2023
Revisions: 54

Original Author(s): Jonathan Delf
Last updated: May 16, 2023
Revisions: 54

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The submandibular glands are bilateral salivary glands located in the face.

Their mixed serous and mucous salivary secretions are important for the lubrication of food during mastication to enable effective swallowing and aid digestion.

In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the submandibular gland – its location, blood supply and clinical correlations.

Anatomical Position

The submandibular gland is located within the anterior part of the submandibular triangle. The boundaries of this triangle are:

  • Superiorly: Inferior body of the mandible.
  • Anteriorly: Anterior belly of the digastric muscle.
  • Posteriorly: Posterior belly of the digastric muscle.

Anatomical Structure

Structurally, the submandibular glands are a pair of elongate, flattened hooks which have two sets of arms; superficial and deep. The positioning of these arms is in relation to the mylohyoid muscle, which the gland hooks around.

  • Superficial arm – comprises the greater portion of the gland and lies partially inferior to the posterior half of the mandible, within an impression on its medial aspect (the submandibular fossa). It is situated outside the boundaries of the oral cavity.
  • Deep arm – hooks around the posterior margin of mylohyoid through a triangular aperture to enter the oral cavity proper. It lies on the lateral surface of the hyoglossus, lateral to the root of the tongue.

Secretions from the submandibular glands travel into the oral cavity via the submandibular duct (Wharton’s duct). This is approximately 5cm in length and emerges anteromedially from the deep arm of the gland between the mylohyoid, hypoglossus and genioglossus muscles. The duct ascends on its course to open as 1-3 orifices on a small sublingual papilla (caruncle) at the base of the lingual frenulum bilaterally.

Fig 1 – Submandibular triangle of the neck

Fig 1.1 - The superficial arm of the submandibular gland.

Fig 2 – The superficial arm of the submandibular gland.

Relationship with Nerves

Both the submandibular gland and duct share an intimate anatomical relationship with three principal nerves; the lingual nerve, hypoglossal nerve and facial nerve (marginal mandibular branch). The courses of these nerves are briefly outlined:

  • Lingual nerve: Beginning lateral to the submandibular duct, this nerve courses anteromedially by looping beneath the duct and then terminating as several medial branches. The terminal branches ascend on the external and superior surface of hypoglossus to provide general somatic afferent innervation to the mucus membrane of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
  • Hypoglossal nerve: Lies deep to the submandibular gland and runs superficial to hyoglossus and deep to digastric muscle.
  • Facial nerve (marginal mandibular branch): Exits the anterior-inferior portion of the parotid gland at the angle of the jaw and traverses the margin of the mandible in the plane between platysma and the investing layer of deep cervical fascia curving down inferior to the submandibular gland.

Clinical Relevance: Submandibular Gland Excision

Submandibular gland excision is a common surgical procedure indicated for conditions such as submandibular gland neoplasia or recurrent calculi.

Fig 1.0 - The extracranial anatomical course of the hypoglossal nerve

Fig 3 – The anatomical course of the hypoglossal nerve.

As discussed previously, the gland and its duct lie in close proximity to three principal nerves, so the surgeon must be acutely aware of this regional anatomy. Consequences of the three nerve injuries are:

  • Lingual nerve: Immediate post-operative ipsilateral parathesia and loss of taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, which is rarely permanent.
  • Hypoglossal nerve: Ipsilateral paresis or paralysis of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue leading to dysarthria and deviation of tongue to side of the lesion. This nerve is rarely injured in this procedure to an extent to produce noticeable disability.
  • Facial nerve (marginal mandibular branch): Ipsilateral paresis or paralysis of the muscles supplying the lower lip and chin, including depressor labii inferioris, which characteristically presents as drooping of the lower lip. This is usually temporary, lasting for 6-12 weeks.

Vasculature

The submandibular gland is supplied by the submental artery (branch of facial artery) and sublingual artery (branch of lingual artery).

Its venous drainage is by two vessels:

  • Facial vein – empties directly into the internal jugular vein.
  • Sublingual vein – drains into the lingual vein and then internal jugular vein.

Innervation

The submandibular glands receive autonomic innervation through parasympathetic and sympathetic fibres, which directly and indirectly regulate salivary secretions respectively.

Parasympathetic

Parasympathetic innervation originates from the superior salivatory nucleus through pre-synaptic fibres, which travel via the chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve (CNVII). The chorda tympani then unifies with the lingual branch of the mandibular nerve (CNViii) before synapsing at the submandibular ganglion and suspending it by two nerve filaments.

Post-ganglionic innervation consists of secretomotor fibres which directly induce the gland to produce secretions, and vasodilator fibres which accompany arteries to increase blood supply to the gland. Increased parasympathetic drive promotes saliva secretion.

Sympathetic

Sympathetic innervation originates from the superior cervical ganglion, where post-synaptic vasoconstrictive fibres travel as a plexus on the internal and external carotid arteries, facial artery and finally the submental arteries to enter each gland. Increased sympathetic drive reduces glandular bloodflow through vasoconstriction and decreases the volume of salivary secretions, resulting in a more mucus and enzyme-rich saliva.

Fig 4 - The submandibular ganglion.

Fig 4 – The parasympathetic innervation to the submandibular gland

Clinical Relevance: Salivary Duct Calculi

A calculus or sialolith is a calcified deposit which can block the lumen of a duct. The submandibular duct is the most susceptible to calculi out of all the salivary ducts; accounting for approximately 80% of cases. This is thought to be due to the

  • Torturous length of the duct (5cm)
  • Ascending secretory pathway
  • Nature of salivary secretion

The submandibular glands and the patency of the ducts can be examined by direct injection of a contrast medium. This is known as a sialogram, which is a special type of radiograph. A calculus may present radiographically as a stricture or complete occlusion of the duct.