General Medical Information

Submandibular Gland

Susan D. John
Michael D. Maves

The submandibular gland occupies most of the submandibular triangle and expands beyond this area over the superficial structures of the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric muscle. Its posterior border is close to the lower part of the parotid gland at the angle of the jaw, where it is separated from this gland by the stylomandibular ligament. The submandibular gland is crossed superficially by the facial vein and sometimes by the ramus mandibularis branch of the facial nerve. The larger submandibular lymph nodes lie along the superficial upper border of the gland, between it and the mandible. The anterior portion of the submandibular gland lies directly against the mylohyoid muscle and the mylohyoid nerve. Medial to the mandible and above the level of the submandibular gland is the lingual nerve in its course toward the tongue. When the submandibular gland is removed, the facial vein is sacrificed, but the ramus mandibularis branch of the facial nerve is preserved to avoid disruption of the corner of the mouth. The facial artery passes across the upper surface of the gland, usually grooving it deeply before rounding the lower border of the mandible, and must be sacrificed in removal of the gland. The submandibular and sublingual glands are innervated from the submaxillary ganglion fibers that accompany the sensory fibers of the lingual nerve. These fibers originate in the chorda tympani and pass into the submandibular ganglion.