Anatomy Atlas and Interpretation of Spine Surgery

8
J.-g. Shi et al.
Submental artery: the largest cervical branch of the
facial artery, which arises from the level of the facial
artery, leaves the submandibular gland, and runs forward
upon the mylohyoid muscle just below the mandible.
The submental artery supplies the surrounding
skin and muscles (Figs. 1.10 and 1.11).
Submandibular duct: about 5 cm in length and opens
at the summit of the sublingual caruncle, which lie on
the floor of the mouth on either sides of the lingual frenulum.
The submandibular duct passes between the lingual
and hypoglossal nerves as it runs across the
hyoglossus until the anterior margin of the hyoglossus.
The lingual nerve crosses laterally under the submandibular
duct, and its terminal branch runs upward along
the interior of the submandibular duct (Fig. 1.12).
Sublingual duct: the sublingual gland braches into
8–20 excretory ducts. Small sublingual ducts open on
the summit of sublingual fold at the back of the gland.
Small branches at the anterior of the gland sometimes
form a major sublingual duct which opens at the
sublingual fold alone or together with the submandibular
gland.
Palatine uvula: a conic projection from the posterior
edge of the middle of the soft palate that hangs
between the oral cavity and the pharynx (Fig. 1.13).
Epiglottis: a leaf-shaped structure on the back of the
tongue composed of fibroelastic cartilage. The front bottom
of the epiglottis connects to the superior margin of the
hyoid bone through the elastic hyoepiglottic ligament. The
epiglottis is separated from the thyrohyoid membrane by
adipose tissue, forming the preepiglottic space (Fig. 1.13).
Structures attached on the anterior tubercle of the
atlas: the uppermost pair of muscle bundles of the longuscolli
muscle converges toward the anterior tubercle
of the atlas. The anterior longitudinal ligaments of the
cervical spine between the two muscle bundles also end
on the anterior tubercle of the atlas. Identification of the
structures mentioned above during operation can help
surgeons identify the position of the anterior tubercle in
case of dislocation (Fig. 1.14).
cephalad
submental vein
submental artery
body of mandible
Superior belly of
omohyoid
muscle (cut off)
Fig. 1.10 Submental artery
and vein and digastric
muscles below the mandible
superior
laryngeal
nerve
superior
thyroid
artery
sternocleidomastoid
artery
sternocleidomastoid