282 HEAD AND NECK 



not under cover of the mastoid process, the sterno-mastoid, 

 and the splenius muscles. It is supplied by the facial nerve. I/ 



Dissection. Turn the anterior part of the submaxillary gland posteriorly, 

 and clean the posterior part of the mylo-hyoid muscle, which lies deep to 

 it. Note that a process, the deep part of the gland, springs from the 

 medial surface of the superficial part and passes anteriorly, deep to the 

 mylo-hyoid. Dissect the external maxillary artery out of the deep sulcus in 

 the posterior part of the gland, without injuring its submental branch 

 which runs anteriorly along the lower border of the mandible ; then displace 

 the posterior part of the gland anteriorly and expose the hypoglossal nerve 

 immediately above the great 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 anteriorly, with the 

 deep part, between the mylo-hyoid muscle laterally and the hyo-glossus 

 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 ; and laterally by the inner surface of the body 

 of the mandible and the lower part of the medial surface of 

 the internal pterygoid muscle. The fascial relations of the 

 gland have been described already (p. 226). 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. 



The inferior surface is covered by the layer of deep 

 cervical fascia which extends upwards from the great cornu 

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

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



