Submandibular space
Disclosures
- updated 12 Apr 2022:
Nothing to disclose
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
The submandibular space is a suprahyoid deep compartment of the head and neck that encompasses the submandibular gland and surrounding structures.
Terminology
Within this compartment, all authors include the space within the submandibular triangle around the submandibular gland. Some also subsume the submental space and others further include the sublingual space, as these spaces communicate freely 5,6. In the latter case, the portion of the submandibular space inferior to the mylohyoid muscle sling is also known as the submaxillary space or submylohyoid space 6. The article below uses the most granular of these definitions (i.e. treating the submental and sublingual spaces as separate compartments and the submandibular space to be synonymous with the submylohyoid/submaxillary space).
Gross anatomy
The superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia between the mandible and hyoid bone forms the floor of the submandibular space.
Boundaries
- anterolaterally: mandible
- medially: anterior belly of digastric muscles
- posteriorly: muscles of the tongue
- superiorly: mylohyoid muscle
- inferiorly: hyoid bone
- superficially: platysma muscle
Contents
- superficial (main) portion of the submandibular gland
- submandibular lymph nodes (level Ib)
- facial artery and vein
- fat
- inferior loop of the hypoglossal nerve
Relations
- superiorly: sublingual space (separated by the mylohyoid muscle anteriorly and continuous posteriorly around the posterior edge of mylohyoid)
- medially: submental space
- posteriorly: parapharyngeal space
Related pathology
- abscess (usually dental source)
- Ludwig angina
- diving ranula
- submandibular sialolithisis and sialadenitis
-<p>The <strong>submandibular space</strong> is a suprahyoid <a href="/articles/deep-spaces-of-the-head-and-neck">deep compartment of the head and neck</a> that encompasses the <a title="Submandibular gland" href="/articles/submandibular-gland">submandibular gland</a> and surrounding structures.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Within this compartment, all authors include the space within the submandibular triangle around the <a href="/articles/submandibular-gland">submandibular gland</a>. Some also subsume the <a href="/articles/submental-space">submental space</a> and others further include the <a href="/articles/sublingual-space-1">sublingual space</a>, as these spaces communicate freely <sup>5,6</sup>. In the latter case, the portion of the submandibular space inferior to the mylohyoid muscle sling is also known as the <strong>submaxillary space </strong>or <strong>submylohyoid space </strong><sup>6</sup>. The article below uses the most granular of these definitions (i.e. treating the submental and sublingual spaces as separate compartments and the submandibular space to be synonymous with the submylohyoid/submaxillary space).</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The <a href="/articles/superficial-layer-of-the-deep-cervical-fascia">superficial layer</a> of the <a href="/articles/deep-cervical-fascia">deep cervical fascia</a> between the mandible and hyoid bone forms the floor of the submandibular space. </p><h5>Boundaries</h5><ul>- +<p>The <strong>submandibular space</strong> is a suprahyoid <a href="/articles/deep-spaces-of-the-head-and-neck">deep compartment of the head and neck</a> that encompasses the <a href="/articles/submandibular-gland">submandibular gland</a> and surrounding structures.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Within this compartment, all authors include the space within the submandibular triangle around the <a href="/articles/submandibular-gland">submandibular gland</a>. Some also subsume the <a href="/articles/submental-space">submental space</a> and others further include the <a href="/articles/sublingual-space-1">sublingual space</a>, as these spaces communicate freely <sup>5,6</sup>. In the latter case, the portion of the submandibular space inferior to the mylohyoid muscle sling is also known as the <strong>submaxillary space </strong>or <strong>submylohyoid space </strong><sup>6</sup>. The article below uses the most granular of these definitions (i.e. treating the submental and sublingual spaces as separate compartments and the submandibular space to be synonymous with the submylohyoid/submaxillary space).</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The <a href="/articles/superficial-layer-of-the-deep-cervical-fascia">superficial layer</a> of the <a href="/articles/deep-cervical-fascia">deep cervical fascia</a> between the mandible and hyoid bone forms the floor of the submandibular space. </p><h5>Boundaries</h5><ul>
- +<li>superficially: <a title="Platysma muscle" href="/articles/platysma-muscle">platysma muscle</a>
- +</li>
-<li>inferior loop of the <a href="/articles/hypoglossal-nerve">hypoglossal nerve</a>- +<li>inferior loop of the <a href="/articles/hypoglossal-nerve-1">hypoglossal nerve</a>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.