Anatomy of Salivary Glands in a nutshell

Anatomy of Salivary Glands in a nutshell

• 3 major paired salivary glands

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1 – m. buccinator; 2 – lingua; 3 – caruncula sublingualis; 4 – ductus submandibularis; 5 – ductussublingsualis; 6 – mandibula (поверхность распила); 7 – glandula sublingualis; 9 – os hyoideum; 8, 10 – glandula submandibularis; 11 – a. carotis externa; 12 – v. jugularis interna; 13 – m. masseter; 14 – m. sternocleidomastoideus; 15 – glandula parotis; 16 – ductus parotideus

Parotid Gland

• On the lateral aspect of the face
• Found lateral to the masseter (may cover the masseter)
• Parotid duct passes over the masseter and pierces the buccinator → goes on to end as the Parotid Papilla which opens into the vestibule of the oral cavity adjacent to 2^nd molar.

Submandibular Gland

1. 1. Crescent-shaped
   2. A part lies on the internal aspect of the mylohyoid muscle, another part is on the outer aspect of it
   3. Has a submandibular duct that exits the anterior portion of the gland. The duct is embedded in the sublingual gland → ends as the Sublingual Papilla on either side of the Lingual Frenulum in the sublingual fossa.
   4. Contraction of the mylohyoid muscle forces saliva along the submandibular duct to cause it to squirt out.

Sublingual Gland

1. 1. Lies in the sublingual fossa
   2. Have a ridge of mucous membrane lying over the surface of this gland
   3. Does not have a single duct, has multiple little ducts that open up into sublingual fossa

Innervation of Salivary Glands

• Dually innervated due to 2 secretions.
• Parotid gland:

1. 1. Parasympathetics: CN IX via a branch called Lesser Petrosal nerve
      • LPN goes into the infratemporal fossa to the Otic Ganglion (suspended from Trigeminal)
      • The LPN is close to the Auriculotemporal nerves → post-GN go onto the auriculotemporal nerve and travels with it to the Parotid gland.
   2. Sympathetics: From the upper thoracic lateral horns → pre-GN go to Superior Cervical Ganglion
      • Post-GN go through Otic Ganglion (no synapse) → with the auriculotemporal nerve to the parotid gland.
      • May also travel along blood vessels (External carotid → superficial temporal, facial)

• Sublingual Gland / Submandibular Gland

1. 1. Parasympathetics:
      1. Pre-GN from CN VII → along chorda tympani → course with the lingual nerve to Submandibular ganglion to the synapse.
      2. Post-GN →
         • go directly to the submandibular gland
         • may rejoin the lingual nerve to go to the sublingual gland
   2. Sympathetics:
      • From T1-T4 → to superior (or middle) cervical Ganglio → travel on blood vessels
      • BV’s
      • Facial artery to the submandibular gland
      • sublingual artery branch of lingual to the sublingual gland.

Structures of the Sublingual Fossa

1. Sublingual Gland
2. Submandibular duct: crosses superior over the lingual nerve
3. Lingual nerve:
   1. the first nerve we’re likely to see, easily confused with hypoglossal nerve.
   2. The most superior nerve is the lingual nerve.
   3. Submandibular ganglion is suspended from the lingual nerve.
4. Hypoglossal nerve:
   1.  much more inferior in the fossa, may not even be seen in the fossa (too deep).
   2. Looks similar to the lingual nerve.
5. Lingual vein
6. Sublingual Artery

Also read:

1. The Salivary Glands @ TeachMeAnatomy
2. Practice Anatomy tests for free!
3. Best Anatomy books for Medical students
4. Best Anatomy websites & journals
5. Anatomy syllabus in (CBME) in India
6. Anatomy syllabus in Russia & Other CIS
7. Anatomy syllabus in China

Also Watch:

• What are the Major Salivary Glands? @ Kenhub