112 SALIVARY GLANDS OF LOWER PRIMATES 



the main submaxillary duct with the lingual nerve. The secondary 

 submaxillary gland is always retrolingual in position, and usually 

 closely associated topographically with the cephalic part of the main 

 submaxillary gland, although there is no glandular continuity between 

 their respective acini. Provisionally, it appears useful to us to adopt 

 a genetic classification, even for those types whose ontogenesis is at 

 present not accessible, and to group the individual components of 

 the alveolingual complex in any given form on the necessarily broad 

 and elastic lines furnished by the developmental history of those 

 species which offer sufficient accessible embryonic material for a close 

 and consecutive study. 



The chief purpose of the account here given of the saUvary orgamza- 

 tion in the lower primates is to establish, in them, the following points : — 



1. The range of variation and of additional development along the 

 main submaxillary line. 



2. The occurrence of a distinct and typical ''secondary submaxillary 

 gland and duct," as a derivative of the median alveoUngual area. 



3. The possibility of confounding this structure topographically 

 with Ranvier's so-called "retrolingual" gland. 



4. The impropriety of longer retaining this term of "retrolingual'' 

 gland in the salivary- nomenclature of the alveolingual region because: — ■ 



a. The line of intersection of the lingual nerve with the alveolingual 

 glandular field is an entirely arbitrary and purely topographical stan- 

 dard, of no value in detennining glandular homologies. 



h. The greater sublingual gland may be either pre- or retrolingual 

 in position, or extend both cephalad and caudad of the Hne of the 

 lingual nerve. 



c. Hence the retention of the term "retrohngual," in contradistinc- 

 tion to a "sublingual" gland, separates elements which genetically 

 belong together as derivatives of the intermediate alveohngual dis- 

 trict. 



d. The secondary submaxillary gland, as above stated, resembles 

 in some cases, in topographical position, a greater sublingual gland 

 carried caudad of the lingual nerve, and hence simulating Ranvier's 

 "retrolingual" element. Opportunity for further unnecessary con- 

 fusion in a field already laboring under excessive multiplicity of terms 

 would be offered by the retention of a "retrolingual" gland. 



