title: A cadaveric study on mylohyoid herniation of the sublingual gland.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to document the presence of a sublingual gland (SLG) herniating inferiorly through the mylohyoid muscle into the submandibular area. A total of 100 half-heads of 50 adult Korean cadavers were enrolled in this study. The floor of the mouth was dissected from the neck, and mylohyoid muscle patency and position of the sublingual gland were evaluated. Demographic factors of the donor and characteristics of the herniation were evaluated. Herniation was found in 29 (58.0 %) of the 50 cadavers or 42 of the 100 half-heads. Herniation was more frequently observed in females than in males (p = 0.009). However, no laterality was observed. Classifying the location of SLG herniation from the midpoint of the mandible to the hyoid bone into 3 regions, 32 (63 %) of herniations were found in the anterior one-third. No ranula formation was observed. The size and weight of normal glands tended to be larger than those of herniated glands, but no statistical significance was observed. An SLG hernia is a very common condition and is more frequently observed in females. As such, SLG herniation should be considered when a submental neck mass is evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Chae
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Si Yoen
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Seok
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: In Hyuk
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 501-746, South Korea. atlas@jnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kwang Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D009334:Neck Muscles; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Hernia; Ranula; Regional anatomy; Salivary gland; Sublingual gland