title: Clinical and anatomic study on the ducts of the submandibular and sublingual glands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between the ducts of the submandibular gland (SMG) and sublingual gland (SLG) and discuss its clinical application relating to SMG radiologic examinations and transfer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The microanatomy of the SMG and SLG was investigated by use of 30 adult cadavers through anatomic dissection by use of a microscope. The relationship between the SMG and SLG ducts was observed and recorded during operations of microvascular autologous SMG transfer in 63 cases of severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 3 patterns of SLG and SMG duct anatomic variation: 1) The SMG and SLG have their own respective ducts that secrete separately at the orifices of the ducts in the floor of the mouth. 2) The SLG has a major duct that joins the duct of the SMG. 3) The SLG only has many fine ducts (7-15) that secrete in the floor of the mouth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anatomy of the ducts of the SMG and SLG is quite complicated. More attention should be paid to the anatomy of the ducts during surgery or imaging procedures related to the SMG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhi-gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Zheng-hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Guang-yan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation; D055815:Young Adult