Submandibular ganglion

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Submandibular ganglion
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Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion. (Submandibular ganglion visible at bottom left, but not labeled.)
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Parasympathetic connections of the submaxillary and superior cervical ganglia. (Submaxillary ganglion labeled at center right.)
Details
Innervates Submandibular gland, sublingual gland
Identifiers
Latin ganglion submandibulare
TA98 A14.3.02.009
TA2 6667
FMA 6966
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The submandibular ganglion (or submaxillary ganglion in older texts) is part of the human autonomic nervous system. It is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck. (The others are the otic ganglion, pterygopalatine ganglion, and ciliary ganglion).

Contents

Location and relations

The submandibular ganglion is small and fusiform in shape. It is situated above the deep portion of the submandibular gland, on the hyoglossus muscle, near the posterior border of the mylohyoid muscle.

The ganglion 'hangs' by two nerve filaments from the lower border of the lingual nerve (itself a branch of the mandibular nerve, CN V3). It is suspended from the lingual nerve by two filaments, one anterior and one posterior. Through the posterior of these it receives a branch from the chorda tympani nerve which runs in the sheath of the lingual nerve.

Fibers

Like other parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck, the submandibular ganglion is the site of synapse for parasympathetic fibers and carries other types of nerve fiber that do not synapse in the ganglion. In summary, the fibers carried in the ganglion are:

Additional images

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chorda tympani</span> Nerve carrying taste sensations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salivatory nuclei</span> Neural nuclei in the brainstem which control salivation

The salivatory nuclei are two general visceral efferent nuclei located in the caudal pons, dorsal and lateral to the facial nucleus. Their neurons give rise to preganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers in the control of salivation. The superior salivatory nucleus supplies fibers to the intermediate nerve (part of the facial nerve. The inferior salivatory nucleus supplies fibers to the glossopharyngeal nerve. The nuclei may also be involved in parasympathetic control of head vasculature.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the human nervous system</span> Overview of and topical guide to the human nervous system

The following diagram is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the human nervous system:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roots of the ciliary ganglion</span> Group of nerve fibers

The ciliary ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion located just behind the eye in the posterior orbit. Three types of axons enter the ciliary ganglion but only the preganglionic parasympathetic axons synapse there. The entering axons are arranged into three roots of the ciliary ganglion, which join enter the posterior surface of the ganglion.

References

  1. I. B. Singh (2008). "The Facial Nerve". Essentials of Anatomy. Jaypee Brothers Publishers. p. 395. ISBN   9788184484618.