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Submandibular triangle

Submandibular triangle is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Submandibular triangle rather than just read about it. In short: The submandibular triangle (or submaxillary or digastric triangle) corresponds to the region of the neck immediately beneath the body of the mandible. Boundaries and coverings It is bounded: above, by the lower border of the body of the mandible, and a line drawn from its angle to the mastoid process; below, by the posterior belly of the Digastricus; in front, by the anterior belly of the Digastricus.

Submandibular triangle — main illustration
Submandibular triangle — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Submandibular triangle belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Submandibular triangle to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Submandibular triangle from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The submandibular triangle (or submaxillary or digastric triangle) corresponds to the region of the neck immediately beneath the body of the mandible.

Boundaries and coverings It is bounded:

above, by the lower border of the body of the mandible, and a line drawn from its angle to the mastoid process; below, by the posterior belly of the Digastricus; in front, by the anterior belly of the Digastricus. It is covered by the integument, superficial fascia, Platysma, and deep fascia, ramifying in which are branches of the facial nerve and ascending filaments of the cutaneous cervical nerve. Its floor is formed by the Mylohyoideus anteriorly, and by the hyoglossus posteriorly.

Triangles Beclard Triangle Lesser Triangle Pirogoff Triangle

Divisions It is divided into an anterior and a posterior part by the stylomandibular ligament.

Anterior part The anterior part contains the submandibular gland, superficial to which is the anterior facial vein, while imbedded in the gland is the facial artery and its glandular branches. Beneath the gland, on the surface of the Mylohyoideus, are the submental artery and the mylohyoid artery and nerve.

Posterior part The posterior part of this triangle contains the external carotid artery, ascending deeply in the substance of the parotid gland This vessel lies here in front of, and superficial to, the external carotid, being crossed by the facial nerve, and gives off in its course the posterior auricular, superficial temporal, and internal maxillary branches: more deeply are the internal carotid, the internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve, separated from the external carotid by the Styloglossus and Stylopharyngeus, and the hypoglossal nerve

See also Anterior triangle of the neck Submandibular space

Additional images

Summary of contents The following summarizes the important structures found in the submandibular triangle:

Submandibular gland Facial artery (cervical section) with branches Submental artery Ascending palatine artery Glandular branches to the submandibular branch Tonsillar branch to palatine tonsil Facial vein Lingual artery Lingual vein Submandibular lymph nodes Submandibular ganglion Hypoglossal Nerve CN XII Lingual nerve Mylohyoid nerve Cervical branch of the facial nerve

References This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 564 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links lesson5 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (necktriangle) lesson6 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) Anatomy photo:25:16-0100 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center Anatomy figure: 25:01-01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center Overview at bcm.edu Overview at howard.edu

Illustrations

Submandibular triangle illustration
Submandibular triangle illustration
Submandibular triangle illustration
Submandibular triangle illustration

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Submandibular triangle

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Submandibular triangle claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Submandibular triangle before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Submandibular triangle ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Submandibular triangle

In research
Submandibular triangle appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Submandibular triangle in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Submandibular triangle is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Human head and neck, Triangles of the neck, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Submandibular triangle outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Submandibular triangle in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Submandibular triangle means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Submandibular triangle out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Submandibular triangle in simple terms?

The submandibular triangle (or submaxillary or digastric triangle) corresponds to the region of the neck immediately beneath the body of the mandible. Boundaries and coverings It is bounded: above, by the lower border of the body of the mandible, and a line drawn from its angle to the mastoid proce…

Why does Submandibular triangle matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Submandibular triangle?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Submandibular triangle.

Tags

  • Human head and neck
  • Triangles of the neck

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