1 88 HEAD AND NECK 



displace the posterior part of the gland forwards and expose 

 the hypoglossal nerve immediately above the greater cornu of 

 the hyoid bone, and, at a higher level, the lingual nerve. Both 

 nerves lie on the lateral surface of the hyoglossus muscle. 

 Hanging from the lower border of the lingual nerve is the small 

 submaxillary ganglion, from which several branches pass to the 

 gland. Note again the deep part of the gland, springing from 

 the medial surface of the superficial part, and also the duct of 

 the gland emerging from the superficial part of the gland and 

 passing forwards, with the deep part, between the mylo-hyoid 

 muscle laterally and the hyoglossus medially. Then study 

 the position and relations of the superficial portion of the gland. 

 The relations of the deep part will be seen after the mylo-hyoid 

 is reflected. 



Glandula Submaxillaris. The submaxillary salivary gland 

 consists of a superficial larger portion and a deep smaller 

 portion. The superficial portion is lodged in a space which 

 is bounded anteriorly by the anterior belly of the digastric ; 

 posteriorly by the posterior belly of the digastric, the stylo-hyoid, 

 and the stylo-mandibular ligament ; below by the deep fascia 

 of the neck ; laterally by the medial surface of the body of 

 the mandible and the lower part of the medial surface of 

 the internal pterygoid muscle ; and medially by the mylo- 

 hyoid and hyoglossus muscles. The fascial relations of the 

 gland have been described already (p. 123). The dissector 

 should .note now that, in accordance with the contour of the 

 space in which it lies, he can recognise that the superficial 

 part of the gland possesses an anterior and a posterior 

 extremity, and three more or less well-defined surfaces, 

 inferior, lateral, and medial. The posterior extremity abuts 

 against the stylo-mandibular ligament, which separates it from 

 the parotid, and it overlaps the stylo-hyoid and posterior 

 belly of the digastric. It is cleft by a groove in which 

 lies the external maxillary artery. The anterior extremity 

 rests on the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. 



The inferior surface is covered by the layer of deep 

 cervical fascia which extends upwards from the greater cornu 

 of the hyoid bone to the lower border of the mandible ; it 

 is crossed posteriorly, under cover of the deep fascia, by the 

 anterior facial vein. Along its upper border lie the majority 

 of the submaxillary lymph glands ; the external maxillary 

 artery turns round between it and the lower border of the 

 mandible, at the anterior border of the masseter ; and the sub- 

 mental branch of the external maxillary artery runs forwards 

 in the angle between it and the mandible. 



