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Submandibular triangle

The neck, or cervical region, is perhaps one of the most anatomically complex regions of the body. Despite being a relatively small region, the contents within this region (and notably the interrelationships between them) hold a great deal of anatomical, functional and clinical relevance. 

To deal with the complex anatomy involved, the cervical region can be organised and divided into what are known as the surgical triangles of the neck. At the most basic division, the neck is divided into the anterior and posterior triangles, which are separated by the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Focusing specifically on the anterior triangle, it can be divided into four smaller triangles, which are the:

This article will discuss the anatomical, surgical and clinical relevance of submandibular triangle

Contents
  1. Overview of the submandibular triangle
  2. Contents
    1. First layer (roof)
    2. Second layer (submandubilar space)
    3. Third layer (floor) 
    4. Fourth layer (basement/sublingual space)
  3. Clinical notes
    1. Trigeminal neuralgia
    2. Bell’s palsy
    3. Mandibular nerve injury
    4. Ludwig’s angina
  4. Sources
+ Show all

Overview of the submandibular triangle

Submandibular triangle

As mentioned above, the submandibular triangle is a subsection of the larger anterior triangle of the neck, which is defined by the following boundaries:

Boundaries

The submandibular triangle, also known as digastric triangle, is located superior to the hyoid bone. It is bordered:

  • superiorly by the inferior border of the mandible and the mastoid process,
  • posteriorly by the posterior belly of the digastric and stylohyoid muscles, and
  • anteriorly by the anterior belly of digastric muscle.

The roof of the triangle is formed the skin, superficial cervical fascia, the platysma and deep cervical fascia. The branches of the facial nerve and transverse cutaneous cervical nerves also pass over the roof of the triangle.

Digastric muscle

The submandibular triangle is largely defined by the digastric muscle, which is a double-bellied muscle that depresses the mandible i.e. opens the mouth.

The anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa found in the inner/internal aspect of the anterior mandible, and the posterior belly arises from the mastoid notch of temporal bone. Both are joined by a tendinous sheath, and attach to the hyoid bone.

Submandibular triangle is bordered by the mandible and bellies of the digastric muscle.

Submandibular gland

A major landmark of the submandibular triangle is the submandibular gland (innervated by the facial nerve). This salivary gland can be described as having two lobes, which are divided by the posterior border of the mylohyoid muscle. The superificial lobe is the larger of the two, located superficial to the inferior surface of the mylohyoid muscle. The smaller deep lobe wraps around the posterior border of the mylohyoid, which will be further elaborated on below. 

Contents

In terms of surgical practice, the submandibular triangle is best visualized as having four layers. These layers start from the skin and continue progressively deeper.

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First layer (roof)

As previously mentioned, the roof of the submandibular triangle i.e. the first plane encountered surgically comprises of the skin and the superficial fascia. These enclose the platysma muscle and the subcutaneous fat. Also enclosed are the cervical and mandibular branches of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).

Second layer (submandubilar space)

If we study the second surgical plane of the submandibular triangle, the following contents can be found:

Submandibular lymph nodes (anterior view)
Submental artery (anterior view)
  • the submental branch of the facial vein, which accompanies the submental branch of the facial artery.  
  • The vessels and nerves to mylohyoid muscle lie directly along the inferior surface of the same muscle. 
  • The superficial/investing layer of the deep cervical fascia is also located here.

Both the facial vein and anterior branch of the retromandicular vein cross the triangle anterior, or superficial to the submandibular gland, and unite near to the angle of the mandible, to form the common facial vein. The common facial vein then drains into the internal jugular vein near the greater cornu of the hyoid bone.

Facial artery (lateral-left view)

The facial artery (which is the fourth branch of the external carotid artery) also enters the submandibular triangle by passing beneath the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, as well as the stylohyoid muscle. Once it enters the triangle, it also lies deep to the submandibular gland. Once the artery has crossed the gland over its posterior aspect, it curls around the inferior border of the mandible, and ascends superomedially across the facial region. 

The inferior tip of the parotid gland can be found within in the posterior region of the digastric triangle. Ascending within the substance of the parotid gland is the external carotid artery

Third layer (floor) 

Next is the third surgical layer. Once again the structures from superficial to deep are the mylohyoid muscle along with its nerve, the hyoglossus muscle, as well as the middle constrictor muscle which lies over the lower part of the superior constrictor, and a subsection of the styloglossus muscle.

Mylohyoid muscle (anterior view)

The mylohyoid muscles are regarded as the true diaphragm of the floor of the mouth. These muscles arise from the mylohyoid line that is found on the inner surface of the mandible, and inserts into the body of the hyoid bone itself.

The nerve that supplies the mylohyoid is a branch of the alveolar division of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3), and lies on the surface of the inferior aspect of the muscle. The superior surface of mylohyoid is in contact with the lingual nerve (division of V3) and hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII).

Fourth layer (basement/sublingual space)

Finally we have the deepest or fourth surgical plane. The structures within this plane, from superficial to deep are:

  • the deep portion of the submandibular gland,
  • the duct of the submandibular gland (Wharton’s duct),
  • the lingual nerve (division of V3),
  • the sublingual artery & vein, which lie superficial to
  • the sublingual gland.

Deeper still we find cranial nerve XII (hypoglossal nerve), as well as the submandibular ganglion. The submandibular duct is found inferior to the lingual nerve (except where the lingual nerve passes beneath it) as well as superior to the hypoglossal nerve.

Submandibular ganglion (left-lateral view)

Submandibular triangle: want to learn more about it?

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