Corpus: Submandibular space

The spatium submandibulare is an anatomical cleft in the anterior neck region (anterior cervical region) that often serves as an abscess lodge.

The submandibular space is bordered by the following anatomical structures:

• cranial - mylohyoid muscle
• rostral and lateral - inner edge of the mandible
• caudal and lateral - lamina superficialis fasciae cervicalis, platysma
• dorsal - Os hyoideum
• medial - digastric muscle (venter anterior)

The cleft space communicates anteromedially with the submental space, posterosuperiorly with the sublingual space and inferiorly with the lateropharyngeal space (parapharyngeal space).

The submandibular space contains the submandibular gland, the submandibular lymphatic nodes and branches of the facial artery.

Submandibular abscesses, usually of odontogenic origin, can form in the submandibular space.