submandibular gland
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A submandibular gland is one of a pair of major salivary glands located beneath the lower jawbone (mandible). It produces and secretes saliva, which is discharged into the mouth through a duct that opens under the tongue.
Usage
The term "submandibular gland" is used in medical, anatomical, and biological contexts to refer specifically to this anatomical structure. * It is typically used as a countable noun. * It is often discussed in relation to other salivary glands (parotid and sublingual glands).
Examples
- The surgeon carefully removed the swollen submandibular gland.
- Saliva from the submandibular gland helps to begin the digestion of food.
- A blockage in the duct of the submandibular gland can cause pain and swelling.
Advanced Usage
- Clinical Context: The term is frequently used when discussing conditions such as sialadenitis (inflammation), salivary stones (sialolithiasis), or tumors affecting this gland.
- The ultrasound revealed a stone in the left submandibular gland.
Variants and Related Words
- Submandibular (adjective): Pertaining to the area beneath the mandible. Often used to describe the gland itself, lymph nodes, or other structures in that region.
- The submandibular lymph nodes were enlarged.
- Submaxillary gland: An older, synonymous term for the submandibular gland, though "submandibular" is now the preferred anatomical term.
Synonyms
- Submaxillary gland (historical/anatomical synonym)
- Mandibular salivary gland (descriptive synonym)
Related Terms & Phrases
- Submandibular duct (also called Wharton's duct): The duct that carries saliva from the submandibular gland into the oral cavity.
- The submandibular duct opens on the floor of the mouth.
- Salivary gland: The general category to which the submandibular gland belongs.
Noun
- a salivary gland inside the lower jaw on either side that produces most of the nocturnal saliva; discharges saliva into the mouth under the tongue