Submental space

Submental space
Submental space situated on the superficial surface of mylohyoid muscle, medial to the anterior belly of the digastric muscle (highlighted in green).
Left half of the submental space (right side of diagram has digastric muscle removed).
Details
Latin	Spatium submentale
*Anatomical terminology* [edit on Wikidata]

The submental space is a fascial space of the head and neck (sometimes also termed fascial spaces or tissue spaces). It is a potential space located between the mylohyoid muscle superiorly, the platysma muscle inferiorly,^[1] under the chin in the midline. The space coincides with the anatomic region termed the submental triangle, part of the anterior triangle of the neck.

Location and structure

Anatomic boundaries

The boundaries of the submental space are:

the mylohyoid muscle superiorly
the investing layer of deep cervical fascia (and this in turn is covered by the platysma muscle) inferiorly
the inferior border of the mandible anteriorly
the hyoid bone posteriorly
the anterior bellies of the digastric muscles laterally.

Communications

The communications of the submental space are:

the submandibular spaces posterolaterally.
the sublingual space superiorly (via erosion through the mylohyoid).

Its contents are submental lymph nodes, areolar connective tissue and the anterior jugular veins.

Clinical relevance

This space may be created by pathology, such as the spread of pus in an infection. Odontogenic infection of the mandibular anterior teeth may erode through the lingual cortical plate of the mandible. If the level at which the infection breaks out of the mandible is below the attachment of the mylohyoid, the it will spread into the submental space.^[1] However, it is more usual for odontogenic infections to spread into the submental space via first involving the submandibular space. Cutaneous infections or symphyseal/parasymphyseal mandibular fractures may also give rise to a submental space infection. Signs and symptoms of a severe submental abscess include a firm swelling below the chin and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Treatment is by surgical incision and drainage, with the incision running transversely in a skin crease behind the chin.

Ludwig's angina is a progressive cellulitis involving the submandibular, sublingual and submental spaces bilaterally. Ludwig's angina may extend into the pharyngeal and cervical spaces, and the swelling can compress the airway and cause dyspnoea (difficulty breathing).^[1]

References

1 2 3 Kenneth M. Hargreaves, Stephen Cohen ; web editor, Louis H.Berman, ed. (2010). Cohen's pathways of the pulp (10th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier. p. 590. ISBN 978-0323064897.

Anatomy of the mouth

Lip	Upper Lower Vermilion border Frenulum of lower lip Labial commissure of mouth Philtrum

Cheek	Buccal fat pad

Roof	Hard palate Soft palate Palatine raphe Incisive papilla

Gums	Interdental papilla Gingival sulcus Gingival margin Gingival fibers Junctional epithelium Mucogingival junction Sulcular epithelium Stippling Periodontium Cementum Gingiva Periodontal ligament

Glands	Parotid gland duct Submandibular gland duct Sublingual gland duct

Teeth	see tooth anatomy

Tongue	Top Taste bud Median sulcus Terminal sulcus Foramen cecum Lingual tonsils Underside Frenulum Plica fimbriata Sublingual caruncle Glossoepiglottic folds Lingual septum

Back of mouth	Oropharynx fauces Plica semilunaris of the fauces Uvula Palatoglossal arch Palatopharyngeal arch Tonsillar fossa Palatine tonsil

Anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract, excluding the mouth

Upper

Pharynx	Muscles Spaces peripharyngeal retropharyngeal parapharyngeal retrovisceral danger prevertebral Pterygomandibular raphe Pharyngeal raphe Buccopharyngeal fascia Pharyngobasilar fascia Piriform sinus

Esophagus	Sphincters upper lower glands

Stomach	Curvatures greater lesser Angular incisure Cardia Body Fundus Pylorus antrum canal sphincter Gastric mucosa Gastric folds Microanatomy Gastric pits Gastric glands Cardiac glands Fundic glands Pyloric glands Foveolar cell Parietal cell Gastric chief cell Enterochromaffin-like cell

Lower

Small intestine

Microanatomy	Intestinal villus Intestinal gland Enterocyte Enteroendocrine cell Goblet cell Paneth cell

Duodenum	Suspensory muscle Major duodenal papilla Minor duodenal papilla Duodenojejunal flexure Brunner's glands

Jejunum	no substructures

Ileum	Ileocecal valve Peyer's patches Microfold cell

Large

Cecum	Appendix

Colon	Ascending colon Hepatic flexure Transverse colon Splenic flexure Descending colon Sigmoid colon Continuous taenia coli haustra epiploic appendix

Rectum	Transverse folds Ampulla

Anal canal	Anus Anal columns Anal valves Anal sinuses Pectinate line Internal anal sphincter Intersphincteric groove External anal sphincter

Wall

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