ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN SEROMUCOUS ACINI OF RAT SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND AFTER CHORDA TYMPANI NEURECTOMY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Anatomy Department, faculty Of Medicine, Mansoura University

Abstract

The main parasympathetic innervation to submandibular salivary gland, via the chorda tympani, is necessary for maintenance of the normal integrity of parenchymatous elements (Barton et aI., 1975; Calvert et aI., 1998). The parasympathetic (secreta-motor) fibers pass through the chorda tympani branch of facial nerve and runs in the middle ear close to the posterior border of the inner surface of the tympanic membrane opposite the upper end of the manubrium mallei (Perwaiz and Karim, 1982). It leaves the skull through the petrotympanic fissure to join the posterior border of
the lingual nerve at an acute angle, then to submandibular ganglion where it relays. The postganglionic fibers pass directly to the submandibular gland (Williams et al., 1995).

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