Dissection Summary

Part 1 - Submandibular Area 

• • Locate the hypoglossal n. (CN XII), as it passes deep to the mylohyoid m.

  • Follow the lingual a. from its origin, the external carotid a., to where it dives deep to the hyoglossus m.

Part 2 - Oral Cavity

• • Identify the:

    • •  oral cavity proper

      • oral vestibule

      • gingiva

      • the different types of teeth

Part 3 - Tongue 

• • Turn the hemisected head so that a medial view of the tongue is possible

  • Identify the extrinsic and intrinsic tongue mm. and associated muscles

  • Remove the oral mucosa superior to the sublingual space

  • Remove the mental spine attachments of the geniohyoid m. and genioglossus m., and reflect the tongue posteromedially to open the sublingual space

  • Locate the remaining extrinsic tongue muscles: 

    • • styloglossus m.

      • hyoglossus m.

  • Locate the following tongue structures from a superior view of the dorsum of the tongue:

    • • medial lingual sulcus

      • filiform papillae

      • fungiform papillae

      • vallate papillae

      • sulcus terminalis

      • foramen caecum

      • lingual tonsil

  • On one side of the donor, remove the mucous membrane of the tongue to locate the intrinsic muscles

  • Identify the gross features of the oral cavity proper:

    • • lingual frenulum

      • sublingual fold (& openings of the sublingual ducts)

      • sublingual caruncle

      • fimbriated folds

Part 4 - Neurovasculature 

• • Reflect the tongue posteromedially to expose the floor of the mouth in the oral cavity proper

  • Clean and identify structures: 

    • • sublingual gland

      • deep portion of submandibular gland

      • submandibular (Wharton’s) duct

      • lingual a. (& brs)

      • lingual n. (& brs)

      • submandibular ganglion

      • hypoglossal n. (CN XII)

      • vena comitans of hypoglossal n.