CASE REPORT |
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Year : 2014 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 2 | Page : 24-26 |
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Variation of branch of glossopharyngeal nerve leading to the submandibular gland
Ozan Turamanlar1, Ercan Akbay2, Yucel Gonul1, Alaettin Celik1, Ahmet Songur1
1 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey 2 Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey
Correspondence Address:
Ozan Turamanlar Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar Turkey
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2148-7731.132966
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Submandibular gland is the second largest salivary gland and comprised of two parts, superficial and deep part. The medial side of the superficial part of the gland neighbors to several structures like glossophayngeal nerve. It is innervated by lingual nerve (sensorial fibers) tympanic chord (parasympathetic fibers) and sympathetic trunk. During a routine dissection, a variant branch of glossopharyngeal nerve entering submandibular gland was observed in an adult male cadaver. During that surgical procedure in the parapharyngeal and submandibular spaces, preservation of the gland function and innervation has a major physiological importance. We did not have any chance to observe the clinical effect of this variation since it was demonstrated on a cadaver. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study published regarding this variation. To bear in mind that submandibular gland can be innervated from glossopharyngeal nerve as a variation is important to preserve the glandular function and to prevent cutting this nerve accidentally during surgery. |
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