Salivary Glands and Submandibular Region

Question 1

What are the 3 major paired salivary glands?

Answer 1

Parotid
Submandibular
Sublingual

Question 2

Where is the submandibular gland found?

Answer 2

Along the mandible, partly superficial and partly deep to the mylohyoid
The gland wraps around the muscle
Deep part lies in the floor of the oral cavity, lateral to the root of the tongue

Question 3

Describe the secretions of the submandibular gland

Answer 3

Mixed serous and mucous

Question 4

Where is the submandibular duct found?

Answer 4

Begins in gland between mylohyoid and hyoglossus

Question 5

Which nerve is found near the submandibular gland and where does it travel?

Answer 5

Lingual nerve (CNV3) loops under the duct before it opens into the oral cavity

Question 6

What fascia covers the submandibular gland?

Answer 6

A fascial capsule that is continuous with the deep investing cervical fascia

Question 7

What provides arterial supply and venous drainage to the submandibular gland?

Answer 7

Submental arteries (branches of facial artery)
Submental veins (to lingual and facial veins)

Question 8

Where does the submandibular duct open?

Answer 8

Into 3 orifices in the oral cavity besides the base of the frenulum

Question 9

Describe the secretions of the sublingual gland

Answer 9

Mostly mucous and some serous

Question 10

Where is the sublingual gland found?

Answer 10

In the sublingual fossa of mandible
Superior to the anterior part of the mylohyoid line

Question 11

Describe the sublingual ducts

Answer 11

Numerous and drain into the oral cavity via openings into the crest of the sublingual fold

Question 12

What supplies arterial supply and venous drainage of the sublingual glands?

Answer 12

Blood supply via submental and sublingual arteries (branch of facial and lingual arteries)
Venous drainage via submental veins (to lingual and facial veins)

Question 13

Describe PS innervation of the salivary glands

Answer 13

Secretomotor innervation to produce saliva
Preganglionic PS fibres to submandibular ganglion from the chorda tympani (CNVII)
Postganglionic in the lingual nerve to sublingual gland or directly to sublingual and submandibular glands not in a nerve

Question 14

Describe sympathetic innervation of the salivary glands

Answer 14

From the superior cervical ganglia and the nerve plexus on the ECA resulting in vasoconstriction and reduction of volume of saliva that leads to dry mouth

Question 15

What are the minor salivary glands and where are they found/

Answer 15

Buccal (cheek)
Palatine (palate)
Lingual (tongue)
Labial (lip)

Question 16

What innervates the minor salivary glands?

Answer 16

CN VII and V

Question 17

What are mucoceles?

Answer 17

Swelling due to blockages of associated ducts
Minor salivary glands are susceptible to these

Question 18

Describe PS innervation of the minor salivary glands

Answer 18

Secretomotor
Preganglionic fibres to pterygopalatine ganglion in the greater petrosal nerve
Postganglionic fibres to the palate via palatine nerves
OR
Same as for major salivary glands

Question 19

What are the common pathologies of salivary glands or ducts

Answer 19

Mumps
Salivary stones/calculi
Excessive salivation

Question 20

What is mumps?

Answer 20

Viral infection that presents in children as painful swellings over the salivary glands

Question 21

How do patients with salivary stones/calculi present and where are they most commonly found?

Answer 21

Patients present with pain, swelling and lack of salivation
Most common in the submandibular duct due to its upwards course into the oral cavity