submandibular gland

Introduction

One of 2 salivary glands in the floor of the mouth, beneath the tongue (the other is the sublingual gland).

It is bounded by the 2 bellies of the digastric muscle & the angle of the mandible.

Structure

• most of the secretory units in the human gland are serous with a few mucous-secreting alveoli, some with serous demilunes.

Empties into

• drainage is through the submandibular duct.

More general terms

• salivary gland

Additional terms

• submandibular duct
• submandibular mass; submandibular swelling