Submandibular triangle

The submandibular triangle (or submaxillary or digastric triangle) corresponds to the region of the neck immediately beneath the body of the mandible.

Submandibular triangle
Submandibular triangle
Side of neck, showing chief surface markings. (Nerves are yellow, arteries are red.)
Details
Identifiers
Latintrigonum submandibulare
TAA01.2.02.003
FMA57779
Anatomical terminology

Boundaries and coverings

It is bounded:

  • above, by the lower border of the body of the mandible, and a line drawn from its angle to the mastoid process;
  • below, by the posterior belly of the Digastricus; in front, by the anterior belly of the Digastricus.

It is covered by the integument, superficial fascia, Platysma, and deep fascia, ramifying in which are branches of the facial nerve and ascending filaments of the cutaneous cervical nerve.

Its floor is formed by the Mylohyoideus anteriorly, and by the hyoglossus posteriorly.

Triangles

Divisions

It is divided into an anterior and a posterior part by the stylomandibular ligament.

Anterior part

The anterior part contains the submandibular gland, superficial to which is the anterior facial vein, while imbedded in the gland is the facial artery and its glandular branches.

Beneath the gland, on the surface of the Mylohyoideus, are the submental artery and the mylohyoid artery and nerve.

Posterior part

The posterior part of this triangle contains the external carotid artery, ascending deeply in the substance of the parotid gland

This vessel lies here in front of, and superficial to, the external carotid, being crossed by the facial nerve, and gives off in its course the posterior auricular, superficial temporal, and internal maxillary branches: more deeply are the internal carotid, the internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve, separated from the external carotid by the Styloglossus and Stylopharyngeus, and the hypoglossal nerve

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See also

Additional images
  • Anterolateral view of head and neck.
  • The triangles of the neck. (Anterior triangles to the left; posterior triangles to the right. Suprahyoid labeled at left.)

Summary of contents

The following summarizes the important structures found in the submandibular triangle:

  • 1. The external and internal carotid artery
  • 2. The internal jugular vein
  • 3. The deep cervical lymph nodes
  • 4. The 10th cranial nerve ( Vagus Nerve )
  • 5. The submandibular gland
  • 6. The submandibular lymph nodes
  • 7. The Facial artery and vein
  • 8. The 12th cranial nerve ( Hypoglossal Nerve )

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 564 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

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