What is the submandibular gland?
The submandibular gland (also called submaxillary gland) is a salivary gland about the size of a plum that lies immediately below the lower jaw. Saliva drains from it through a duct that opens on the inside of the mouth under the tongue immediately behind the lower front teeth. Calcium deposits in the salivary glands and their ducts can form stones similar to those that form in the kidneys. The most common reason for removing a submandibular gland is chronic infection that occurs if the ducts that drain saliva become blocked with a stone. Other indications for surgery include benign tumors, such as pleomorphic adenomas. Whereas 80% of parotid gland tumors are benign, in the submandibular gland, 66% of tumors are malignant.
