Submandibular Salivary Gland

Features

• large salivary gland
• situated in anterior part of digastric triangle
• size of walnut
• weighs about 15-20gms 
• roughly J - shaped 
• posterior border of mylohyoid divides the gland into 

1. large superficial part 
2. small deep part

Coverings

• partially enclosed b/n two layers of investing layer of deep cervical fascia 

superficial layer 

• covers the inferior surface of gland 
• is attached to base of mandible 

deep layer 

• covers the medial surface of gland 
• attached to mylohyoid line

Superficial Part

• fills the digastric triangle 

Extent

• superiorly - deep to mandible upto mylohyoid line
• inferiorly - overlaps stylohyoid & posterior belly of digastric 

Surfaces

• inferior 
• lateral
• medial

Relations

Inferior surface

• skin 
• platysma 
• cervical branch of facial N 
• deep fascia 
• facial V 
• submandibular lymph nodes

Lateral surface 

• submandibular fossa 
• insertion of medial pterygoid 
• facial A 

Medial Surface 

• mylohyoid 
• hyoglossus 
• styloglossus

Deep Part

• small in size 

Location

• deep to mylohyoid 
• superficial to hyoglossus 

Extent 

• posteriorly - continuous with superficial part round the posterior border of mylohyoid 
• anteriorly - it extents up to posterior end of sublingual gland

Relations

• laterally - mylohyoid 
• medially - hyoglossus 
• above - lingual N with submandibular ganglion 
• below - hypoglossal N

Submandibular Duct / Wharton’s duct

• Thin walled 
• about 5cms long 
• emerges at the anterior end of deep part 
• runs forward on hyoglossus 
• b/n lingual & hypoglossus Ns 
• At the anterior border of hyoglossus, the duct is crossed by lingual N
• opens on the floor of mouth on the summit of sublingual papilla, at the side of frenulum of the tongue.

Blood supply & Lymphatic Drainage

• Arterial Supply - Facial A
• Venous Drainage - Common facial V or Lingual V 
• Lymphatic drainage - submandibular Lymph nodes

Nerve Supply

• Supplied by branches from submandibular ganglion.

Branches convey

• secretomotor fibres
• sensory fibres
• vasomotor sympathetic fibres from the plexus on facial A

Secretomotor Pathway

Watch lectures on YouTube:

Submandibular Salivary Gland | Parts | Relations | Duct & Relations |Nerve Supply |Clinical anatomy