0:01

So we are continuing our anatomic review

0:04

of the submandibular gland.

0:06

And now we're going to talk about the duct of the

0:09

submandibular gland, which I refer to as the Wharton's duct.

0:13

Wharton's duct runs about 5 cm,

0:17

and it runs between the mylohyoid muscle and the

0:19

hyoglossus muscle, which was demonstrated

0:22

on the previous case.

0:24

This is effectively the sublingual space.

0:27

And this duct is also in close association with two of the

0:36

nerves that innervate the tongue,

0:38

those being the lingual nerve and the

0:41

hypoglossal nerve. And as I mentioned,

0:43

it opens lateral to the frenulum.

0:45

The frenulum is that midline,

0:47

very fine tissue that you see when

0:49

you lift up your tongue.

0:50

You have separation of the two sides of

0:53

the floor of the mouth by the frenulum.

0:55

And on either side of the frenulum,

0:56

you will find the ductal orifice of

0:59

Wharton's duct, the submandibular duct.

1:02

Again, for those people who have done

1:03

any amount of sialography,

1:05

you know that it's got a little nipple to it

1:08

that is quite difficult to catheterize.

1:11

Here, again, is an example of a patient

1:15

who has a calculus in the duct.

1:19

This is the calcification,

1:22

and you see the ductal dilatation.

1:25

Ductal dilatation,

1:26

we will use the term sialoectasia.

1:31

That refers to the duct enlargement or sialodochoectasia.

1:40

So, the docho is the duct portion.

1:44

Ectasia is the enlargement and salivary gland.

1:48

So, you will hear these

1:50

these terms used for the duct proximal

1:53

to the calcification.

Wharton’s Duct – Summary

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