| Submandibular gland |
Salivary glands:
1 - parotid gland,
2 - submandibular gland,
3 - sublingual gland |
| Latin |
glandula submandibularis |
| Artery |
glandular branches of facial artery |
| Nerve |
submandibular ganglion |
| MeSH |
Submandibular+Gland |
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2011) |
The paired submandibular glands or submaxillary glands are major salivary glands located beneath the floor of the mouth. They weigh about 15 grams and produce around 60-67% of the total volume of saliva. (Citation Needed)
Contents
- 1 Development
- 2 Anatomy
- 2.1 Histology
- 2.2 Blood supply
- 2.3 Innervation
- 3 Pathology
- 4 Additional images
- 5 See also
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Development
The submandibular salivary glands develop later than the parotid glands and appear late 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. Solid cords branch from the buds and grow posteriorly, lateral to the developing tongue. The cords of the submandibular gland later branch further and then become canalized to form the ductal part. The submandibular gland acini develop from the cords’ rounded terminal ends at 12 weeks, and secretory activity via the submandibular duct begins at 16 weeks. Growth of the submandibular gland continues after birth with the formation of more acini. Lateral to both sides of the tongue, a linear groove develops and closes over to form the submandibular duct.[1]
Anatomy
Lying superior to the digastric muscles, each submandibular gland is divided into superficial and deep lobes, which are separated by the mylohyoid muscle:[2]
- The superficial lobe comprises most of the gland, with the mylohyoid muscle runs under it
- The deep lobe is the smaller part
Secretions are delivered into the Wharton duct or submandibular duct on the deep portion after which they hook around the posterior edge of the mylohyoid muscle and proceed on the superior surface laterally. The excretory ducts are then crossed by the lingual nerve, and ultimately drain into the sublingual caruncles (caruncula sublingualis) on either side of the lingual frenulum along with the major sublingual duct (Bartholin). The gland can be bilaterally palpated (felt) inferior and posterior to the body of the mandible, moving inward from the inferior border of the mandible near its angle with the head tilted forwards.[3]
Histology
Human submaxillary gland. At the right is a group of mucous alveoli, at the left a group of serous alveoli.
Lobes contain smaller lobules, which contain adenomeres, the secretory units of the gland. Each adenomere contains one or more acini, or alveoli, which are small clusters of cells that secrete their products into a duct. The acini of each adenomere are composed of either serous or mucous cells, with serous adenomeres predominating. Some mucous adenomeres may also be capped with a serous demilune, a layer of lysozyme-secreting serous cells resembling a half moon.
Like other exocrine glands, 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. Further, because the secretory cells are of both serous and mucous types, the submandibular gland is a mixed gland, though it is mostly serous. It has long striated ducts and short intercalated ducts.[4]
The secretory acinar cells of the submandibular gland have distinct functions. The mucous cells are the most active and therefore the major 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 esophagus. In addition, the serous cells produce salivary amylase, which aids in the breakdown of starches in the mouth. The submandibular gland's highly active acini account for most of the salivary volume. The parotid and sublingual glands account for the remaining.
Blood supply
The gland receives its blood supply from the facial and lingual arteries.[5]
Innervation
Parasympathetic and Sympathetic connections of the submaxillary and superior cervical ganglia.
Their secretions, like the secretions of other salivary glands, are regulated directly by the parasympathetic nervous system and indirectly by the sympathetic nervous system.
- Parasympathetic innervation to the submandibular glands is provided by the superior salivatory nucleus via the chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve, that becomes part of the trigeminal nerve's lingual nerve prior to synapsing on the submandibular ganglion. Increased parasympathetic activity promotes the secretion of saliva.[6]
- The sympathetic nervous system regulates submandibular secretions through vasoconstriction of the arteries that supply it. Increased sympathetic activity reduces glandular bloodflow, thereby decreasing the volume of fluid in salivary secretions, producing an enzyme rich mucous saliva. Nevertheless, direct stimulation of sympathetic nerves will cause an increase in salivary enzymatic secretions. In sum, the volume decreases, but the secretions are increased by parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation.[7][8]
Pathology
See also: Salivary gland disease
The submandibular gland accounts for 80% of all salivary duct calculi (salivary stones or sialolith), possibly due to the different nature of the saliva that it produces and the tortuous travel of the submandibular duct to its ductal opening for a considerable upward distance.[9]
Additional images
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Mandible. Inner surface. Side view.
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Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion.
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Mucus cell are identifiable by the lack of color in their cytoplasm, while serosal cells have a basophilic color.
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Submandibular gland lateral view
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Submandibular gland - right view
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Submandibular gland - frontal view
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Muscles, arteries and nerves of neck.Newborn dissection.
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Muscles, arteries and nerves of neck.Newborn dissection.
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Muscles, nerves and arteries of neck.Deep dissection. Anterior view.
See also
References
- ^ Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy, Bath-Balogh and Fehrenbach, Elsevier, 2011, page 135
- ^ Human Anatomy, Jacobs, Elsevier, 2008, page 196
- ^ Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2012, p. 155
- ^ Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy, Bath-Balogh and Fehrenbach, Elsevier, 2011, page 135
- ^ Ten Cate's Oral Histology, Nanci, Elsevier, 2013, page 255
- ^ Moore et al, Keith (2010). Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 5th Edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-7525-0.
- ^ Koeppen, Bruce M. (2010). Berne and Levy Physiology 6th Edition, Updated. Mosby Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-323-07362-2.
- ^ Hall, John E. (2006). Guyton Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th Edition. Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-0240-1.
- ^ Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy, Bath-Balogh and Fehrenbach, Elsevier, 2011, page 137
- Douglas F. Paulsen (2000). Histology and cell biology (4th edition ed.). Stamford, Conn: Lange Medical Books/McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-8385-0593-7.
External links
- Histology at usc.edu
- submandibular+gland at eMedicine Dictionary
- Anatomy photo:25:10-0109 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Anterior Triangle of the Neck: Nerves and Vessels of the Carotid Triangle"
- Anatomy photo:34:09-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Oral Cavity: The Submandibular Gland and Duct"
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (VII)
- Salivary gland infections from Medline Plus at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001041.htm
- Salivary gland cancer from American Cancer Society at http://www.cancer.org/cancer/salivaryglandcancer/detailedguide/salivary-gland-cancer-what-is-salivary-gland-cancer
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Head and neck anatomy, digestive system: Mouth anatomy (TA A05.1–2, TH H3.04.01, GA 11.1110–2, 1125–1141)
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| Mouth |
Oral cavity
(including
mucosa) |
| Vestibule |
| Lip |
- Upper
- Lower
- Vermilion border
- Frenulum of lower lip
- Labial commissure of mouth
- Philtrum
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| Cheek |
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| Oral cavity proper |
Palate/
roof of mouth |
- Hard palate
- Soft palate
- Palatine raphe
- Incisive papilla
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| Gingiva |
- Interdental papilla
- Gingival sulcus
- Gingival margin
- Gingival fibers
- Junctional epithelium
- Mucogingival junction
- Sulcular epithelium
- Stippling
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- Periodontium: Cementum
- Gingiva
- Periodontal ligament
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| Glands |
- Parotid gland/Parotid duct
- Submandibular gland/Submandibular duct
- Sublingual gland/Major sublingual duct
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| Teeth |
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| Tongue |
- dorsum
- Taste bud
- Median sulcus
- Terminal sulcus
- Foramen cecum
- Lingual tonsils
- ventral surface
- Frenulum
- Fimbriated fold
- Sublingual caruncle
- Anterior
- Posterior
- Glossoepiglottic folds
- Lingual septum
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Oro-Pharynx/
fauces |
- Oropharyngeal isthmus/Isthmus of the fauces
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| Soft palate |
- Uvula
- Palatoglossal arch
- Palatopharyngeal arch
- Plica semilunaris of the fauces
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- Tonsillar fossa
- Palatine tonsil
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noco/cofa (c)/cogi/tumr, sysi
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