Salivary glands are exocrine glands that produce saliva, essential for keeping the oral cavity moist and aiding in digestion. They are classified into major glands (parotid, submandibular, sublingual) and minor glands based on size and secretion type. The document details the anatomy, blood supply, nerve supply, and clinical relevance of these glands.

1. SALIVARY GLANDS

2. 2
Gland - Group of cells in an animal's body that synthesizes substances for
release into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the
body or its outer surface (exocrine gland).

3. TYPES OF GLAND

4. SALIVARY GLAND
Introduction
Classification
Boundaries
Blood and nerve supply
Development
Clinical Anatomy
4

5. INTRODUCTION
There are three pairs of large salivary glands-the parotid, submandibular and sublingual. In
addition, there are numerous small glands in the tongue, the palate, the cheeks and the lips.
Why this salivary glands are important?
They produces Saliva which is a complex fluid which keeps oral cavity moist and forms a film
that coats the teeth and mucosa.
Also contains enzymes which helps in digestion of food
Definition: Salivary glands are compound , tubuloacinar, merocrine,
exocrine glands, ducts of whoich opens into the oral cavity

6. CLASSIFICATION OF SALIVARY
GLANDS
6
• Based on the size & location, they are classified as :
• Minor salivary glands – located in various parts of
the oral cavity
o Lingual, Labial, Palatal, Buccal, Glossopalatine,
Retromolar
• Major salivary glands - 3 pairs
o Parotid gland
o Submandibular gland
o Sublingual gland

7. CLASSIFICATION OF SALIVARY
GLANDS
7
• Based on the type of secretion, they are
classified as :
• Serous secreting glands
Eg – Parotid glands, von Ebner’s gland.
• Mucus secreting glands
Eg - glands of blandin & nuh, glosso palatine glands.
• Mixed glands
Eg – submandibular gland, sublingual gland.

8. PAROTID GLAND
FEATURES
• (para=around, otic=ear)
• Largest major salivary gland
• It is purely serous gland.
• It weighs about 25 gms.
• It is situated below the external acoustic meatus, between the
ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoid.
• Parotid gland contains vertically disposed blood vessels and
horizontally situated facial nerve and its various branches

9. CAPSULE OF PAROTID GLAND
• The investing layer of the deep cervical fascia forms a
capsule for the gland and it is supplied by great auricular
nerve.
• The fascia splits (between the angle of the mandible and
the mastoid process) to enclose the gland.
• It has superficial lamina/parotidomassetric fascia & the
deep lamina.A portion of the deep lamina, extending
between the styloid process and the mandible, is
thickened to form the stylomandibular ligament which
separates the parotid gland from the submandibular
salivary gland.
• The ligament is pierced by the external carotid artery.

10. EXTERNAL FEATURES
• The gland resembles a three-sided pyramid.
• The apex of the pyramid is directed downwards.
• The gland has four surfaces:
• a. Superior (base of the pyramid)
• b. Superficial
• c. Anteromedial
• d. Posteromedial
• The surfaces are separated by three borders:
• a. Anterior
• b. Posterior
• c. Medial/pharyngeal

15. SUBMANDIBULAR SALIVARY
GLAND
Features
• This is a large salivary gland, situated in the anterior
part of the digastric triangle.
• The gland is about the size of a walnut weighing about
15 to 20 g.
• It is roughly J-shaped, being indented by the posterior
border of the mylohyoid which divides it into a larger
part superficial to the muscle, and a small part lying
deep to the muscle

16. Coverings:
• The gland is partially enclosed between two layers of deep
cervical fascia.
• The superficial layer of fascia covers the inferior surface of
the gland and is attached to the base of the mandible.
• The deep layer covers the medial surface of the gland and
is superiorly to the mylohyoid line of the mandible .

17. DISSECTION
• Submandibular gland is seen in the digastric triangle. On pushing the
superficial part of the gland posteriorly, the entire mylohyoid muscle is
exposed.
• The deep part of the gland lies on the superior surface of the muscle.
• Separate the facial artery from the deep surface of gland and identify
its branches in neck.
• The hyoglossus muscle is recognised as a quadrilateral muscle lying
on deeper plane than mylohyoid muscle. Identify lingual nerve with
submandibular ganglion, and hypoglossal nerve running on the
hyoglossus muscle from lateral to the medial side.
• Deep part of gland and its duct are also visible on this surface of
hyoglossus muscle.
• Carefully release the hyoglossus muscle from the hyoid bone and
reflect it towards the tongue.
• Note the structures deep to the muscle, e.g. genioglossus muscle,
lingual artery, vein and middle constrictor of the pharynx.

18. Superficial Part
This part of the gland fills the digastric triangle. It
extends superiorly deep to the mandible up to the
mylohyoid line. Inferiorly: It overlaps stylohyoid and
the posterior belly of digastric .
It has three surfaces:
a.Inferior
b. Lateral
c. Medial.

19. Relations
The inferior surface is covered by:
a. Skin
b. Platysma
c. Cervical branch of the facial nerve
d. Deep fascia
e. Facial vein
f. Submandibular lymph nodes.

20. 20
The lateral surface is related to:
a. The submandibular fossa on the mandible
b. Insertion of the medial pterygoid
c. The facial artery.
The medial surface is related to:
•Anterior part: Mylohyoid, submental branch of facial
•artery, mylohyoid nerve and vessels
•Middle part: Hyoglossus, styloglossus, lingual artery,
•XII nerve
• Posterior part: Stylohyoid, styloglossus, IX nerve.

21. 21
Deep Part
• This part is small in size.
• It lies deep to the mylohyoid, and superficial to the
hyoglossus and the styloglossus.
• Posteriorly, it is continuous with the superficial part
around the posterior border of the mylohyoid.
• Anteriorly, it extends up to the posterior end of the
sublingual gland.
Relations
• Present in between mylohyoid and hyoglossus.
• Laterally – Mylohyoid
• Medially – Hyoglossus
Above – Lingual nerve with submandibular ganglion
• Below – Hypoglossal nerve

22. Blood Supply and Lymphatic Drainage
• The submandibular gland is supplied by the facial artery.
• The facial artery arises from the external carotid just above the tip of the greater cornua of the hyoid
bone.
• The cervical part of the facial artery runs upwards on the superior constrictor of pharynx deep to the
posterior belly of the digastric, and stylohyoid to the ramus of the mandible.
• It grooves the posterior end of the submandibular salivary gland. Next the artery makes an S-bend
(two loops) first winding down over the submandibular gland, and then up over the base of the
mandible .Facial artery is palpable on the base of mandible at the anteroinferior angle of masseter
muscle.
• The veins drain into the common facial or lingual vein.
• Lymph passes to submandibular lymph nodes.

23. 23
Nerve Supply
It is supplied by branches from the submandibular ganglion.
These branches convey:
1 Secretomotor fibres.
2 Sensory fibres from the lingual nerve
3 Vasomotor sympathetic fibres from the plexus on the facial
artery.
SUBMANDIBULAR DUCT/WHARTON’S DUCT
• It is thin walled, and is about 5 cm long.
• It emerges at the anterior end of the deep part of the gland
and runs upwards and forwards on the hyoglossus, between
the lingual and hypoglossal nerves.
• At the anterior border of the hyoglossus, the duct is crossed
by the lingual nerve .
• It opens on the floor of the mouth, on the summit of the
sublingual papilla, at the side of the frenulum of the tongue.

24. SUBMANDIBULAR SALIVARY
GLAND
Features
• This is a large salivary gland, situated in the anterior
part of the digastric triangle.
• The gland is about the size of a walnut weighing about
15 to 20 g.
• It is roughly J-shaped, being indented by the posterior
border of the mylohyoid which divides it into a larger
part superficial to the muscle, and a small part lying
deep to the muscle

25. Coverings:
• The gland is partially enclosed between two layers of deep
cervical fascia.
• The superficial layer of fascia covers the inferior surface of
the gland and is attached to the base of the mandible.
• The deep layer covers the medial surface of the gland and
is superiorly to the mylohyoid line of the mandible .

26. DISSECTION
• Submandibular gland is seen in the digastric triangle. On pushing the
superficial part of the gland posteriorly, the entire mylohyoid muscle is
exposed.
• The deep part of the gland lies on the superior surface of the muscle.
• Separate the facial artery from the deep surface of gland and identify
its branches in neck.
• The hyoglossus muscle is recognised as a quadrilateral muscle lying
on deeper plane than mylohyoid muscle. Identify lingual nerve with
submandibular ganglion, and hypoglossal nerve running on the
hyoglossus muscle from lateral to the medial side.
• Deep part of gland and its duct are also visible on this surface of
hyoglossus muscle.
• Carefully release the hyoglossus muscle from the hyoid bone and
reflect it towards the tongue.
• Note the structures deep to the muscle, e.g. genioglossus muscle,
lingual artery, vein and middle constrictor of the pharynx.

27. Superficial Part
This part of the gland fills the digastric triangle. It
extends superiorly deep to the mandible up to the
mylohyoid line. Inferiorly: It overlaps stylohyoid and
the posterior belly of digastric .
It has three surfaces:
a.Inferior
b. Lateral
c. Medial.

28. Relations
The inferior surface is covered by:
a. Skin
b. Platysma
c. Cervical branch of the facial nerve
d. Deep fascia
e. Facial vein
f. Submandibular lymph nodes.

29. 29
The lateral surface is related to:
a. The submandibular fossa on the mandible
b. Insertion of the medial pterygoid
c. The facial artery.
The medial surface is related to:
•Anterior part: Mylohyoid, submental branch of facial
•artery, mylohyoid nerve and vessels
•Middle part: Hyoglossus, styloglossus, lingual artery,
•XII nerve
• Posterior part: Stylohyoid, styloglossus, IX nerve.

30. 30
Deep Part
• This part is small in size.
• It lies deep to the mylohyoid, and superficial to the
hyoglossus and the styloglossus.
• Posteriorly, it is continuous with the superficial part
around the posterior border of the mylohyoid.
• Anteriorly, it extends up to the posterior end of the
sublingual gland.
Relations
• Present in between mylohyoid and hyoglossus.
• Laterally – Mylohyoid
• Medially – Hyoglossus
Above – Lingual nerve with submandibular ganglion
• Below – Hypoglossal nerve

31. Blood Supply and Lymphatic Drainage
• The submandibular gland is supplied by the facial artery.
• The facial artery arises from the external carotid just above the tip of the greater cornua of the hyoid
bone.
• The cervical part of the facial artery runs upwards on the superior constrictor of pharynx deep to the
posterior belly of the digastric, and stylohyoid to the ramus of the mandible.
• It grooves the posterior end of the submandibular salivary gland. Next the artery makes an S-bend
(two loops) first winding down over the submandibular gland, and then up over the base of the
mandible .Facial artery is palpable on the base of mandible at the anteroinferior angle of masseter
muscle.
• The veins drain into the common facial or lingual vein.
• Lymph passes to submandibular lymph nodes.

32. 32
Nerve Supply
It is supplied by branches from the submandibular ganglion.
These branches convey:
1 Secretomotor fibres.
2 Sensory fibres from the lingual nerve
3 Vasomotor sympathetic fibres from the plexus on the facial
artery.
SUBMANDIBULAR DUCT/WHARTON’S DUCT
• It is thin walled, and is about 5 cm long.
• It emerges at the anterior end of the deep part of the gland
and runs upwards and forwards on the hyoglossus, between
the lingual and hypoglossal nerves.
• At the anterior border of the hyoglossus, the duct is crossed
by the lingual nerve .
• It opens on the floor of the mouth, on the summit of the
sublingual papilla, at the side of the frenulum of the tongue.

33. THANK
YOU