Sublingual salivary gland

Dr. Ganesh Mengal

III MDS

Introduction
The oral cavity is kept moist by a film of
fluid called saliva, this complex salivary
fluid is secreted by the salivary gland
which is exocrine in nature . Salivas
important function is to maintain the well
being of mouth hence any Individuals with
a deficiency of salivary secretion
experience difficulty eating, speaking,
swallowing and prone to mucosal
infections .

Types of salivary glands

I Based on anatomic location
Parotid gland
Sub mandibular gland
Sub lingual gland
Accessory glands (labial,
lingual, palatal
buccal,glossopalatine and
retromolar)

III Based on size and amount

of secretion
Major salivary glands
Minor salivary glands

II Based on type of secretion

Serous:parotid
,submandibular and von
ebners glands

Mucous : sub
lingual,labial
,buccal,palatine
,glossopalatine,posterir
part of tongue

Mixed:sub mandibular, sub

lingual ,anterio labial
buccal and lingual minor
glands

Embryology
Development :individual salivary glands arise as a
proliferation of oral epithelial cells,forming focal thickening
that grows into underlying ectomesenchyme
Parotid : 6 th week of I U : corners of stomatidium
Sub mandibular : end of 6 th week of I U : floor of mouth
Sub lingual : 8 th week of I U: lateral to primordium
Minor salivary gland : 12 th week of I U :buccal epithelium

Sub lingual salivary

gland
Mixed gland ,predominantly mucous secretion.
Smallest of major salivary gland
This gland lies just beneath the mucous
membrane of the floor of the mouth ,in contact
with the sub lingual fossa on the lingual aspect of
mandible.
Bartholins duct, through which this gland
communicates oral cavity .
This duct may open into wartons duct or directly
in oral cavity with a sub lingual papilla

Relations :
Anteriorly : The gland of the opposite side.
Posteriorly : The deep part of the submandibular gland.
Medially : The genioglossus muscle, the lingual nerve, and the
submandibular duct.
Laterally : The gland is related laterally to the sublingual
fossa of the medial surface of the mandible.
Superiorly : The mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth,
which is elevated by the gland to form the sublingual fold.
Inferiorly : The gland is supported by the mylohyoid muscle.
Sublingual ducts : The sublingual ducts are eight to twenty in
number. The majority open into the mouth on the summit of
the sublingual fold, but a few may open into the
submandibular duct.

Nerve supply:
Parasympathetic secretomotor supply
from the superior salivary nucleus of the
seventh cranial nerve. The nerve fibers
pass to the submandibular ganglion via
the chorda tympani nerve and the lingual
nerve. Postganglionic parasympathetic
fibers pass to the gland via the lingual
nerve.
Postganglionic sympathetic fibers reach
the gland as a plexus of nerves around
the facial and lingual arteries.

Nerve supply

Blood supply:
The gland is supplied by branches of
the facial and lingual arteries. The
veins drain into the facial and lingual
veins.

Lymph Drainage:
The lymph vessels drain into the
submandibular and the deep cervical
lymph nodes.

Architecture of the gland

Salivary gland consist of secretory end pieces
that are composed of serous cells ,mucous cells ,
or mucous end pieces capped by serous
demilunes and a system of ducts
(intercalated,striated and excretory)that modify
the saliva produced by the end pieces and convey
to the oral cavity.contractile myoepithelial cells
are distributed around the end pieces and
intercalated ducts. The gland is supported by the
connective tissue ,which carries the nerve
,vascular and lymphatic supply.

Composition of saliva
Volume : 600 1000ml/day
Electrolytes :Na+ ,K+ ,HCO3- ,Ca++ ,Mg++ , SCNand F
Secretory proteins :amylase,proline rich protiens
,mucins ,histatin,peroxidase lysosyme,lactoferrin
secretory immunoglobulins ;IgG and IgM
Small organic molecules :Glucose ,amino acids
urea,uric acid and lipids
Others : insulin,cyclic adenosine
monophpsohate binding proteins and serum
albumin

Rate of flow
Flow rate(ml/min)
submandibular
Resting

whole

0.2-0.4

parotid

0.04

0.1
0.8

Stimulated

2.0-5.0

1.0-2.0

pH

6.7-7.4

6.0-7.8

Functions

Protection
Buffering
Tooth integrity
Anti microbial activity
Tissue repair
Digestion
Taste
Aids in denture retention

Ranula