Submandibular Gland, Inferior View

Description

Viewed from inferior to superior beneath the mandible, the submandibular (submaxillary) gland is presented with its larger superficial part positioned inferolateral to the mandibular body and wrapping around the posterior margin of the mylohyoid to meet the smaller deep part. Medially, the gland relates to the hyoglossus and styloglossus region, while laterally it sits against the inner surface of the mandible near the submandibular fossa. The submandibular duct (Wharton duct) is expected to course anteriorly from the deep part, running on the floor of mouth toward the sublingual caruncle beside the lingual frenulum. Upper cervical vertebrae and the cranial base provide midline orientation posteriorly. This inferior perspective matters because it clarifies where the superficial lobe “hangs” below the jaw and where the deep lobe disappears into the sublingual space, the anatomic pathway that explains why a single gland can present as either a submandibular triangle mass or a floor-of-mouth swelling. Sialolithiasis most often affects the submandibular gland and duct, and a stone lodged proximally can obstruct Wharton duct, causing meal-related pain and swelling that tracks along this anterior duct course. Clear separation from adjacent cervical soft tissues is also key when planning a submandibular gland excision, where the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve and the lingual and hypoglossal nerves become operative hazards. A tight surgical field. Use this artwork in head and neck anatomy teaching (oral cavity, suprahyoid neck, salivary glands) and in ENT or oral and maxillofacial surgery materials explaining Wharton duct obstruction, gland excision, and palpation landmarks beneath the mandibular border. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.