submandibulares

Submandibulares refer to the submandibular glands, a pair of major salivary glands located in the floor of the mouth within the submandibular triangle, inferior to the mandible. Each gland consists of a superficial and a deep lobe; the deep lobe wraps around the posterior edge of the mylohyoid muscle and extends toward the tongue.

A key feature is the excretory duct, known as Wharton's duct, which emerges from the gland and travels anteriorly to open on the floor of the mouth at the sublingual caruncle near the lingual frenulum. The duct carries mixed saliva, which is primarily serous but includes mucous components as well.

Innervation and blood supply: parasympathetic secretomotor fibers originate from the facial nerve via the chorda tympani, synapsing in the submandibular ganglion, with postganglionic fibers reaching the gland through the lingual nerve to stimulate salivation. Sympathetic input, via the superior cervical ganglion, modulates flow. Arterial supply is mainly from branches of the facial artery, with venous drainage into the facial vein and related channels. Lymphatic drainage follows the submandibular nodes and then to deep cervical nodes.

Function and clinical relevance: the submandibular glands produce a substantial portion of unstimulated saliva, contributing to lubrication and initial digestion. They are commonly involved in sialolithiasis, where stones can obstruct Wharton's duct and cause glandular swelling, especially during meals. Infections (sialadenitis) and neoplasms, such as pleomorphic adenoma or other glandular tumors, can affect these glands. Understanding their anatomy aids in surgical planning and diagnosis of salivary gland disorders.