Submandibular salivary gland

The paired submandibular (= submaxillary) salivary glands have a superficial and a deep part, separated by the mylohyoid muscle.  The superficial part is larger, and lies superficial to the mylohyoid muscles and between the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric m.  Parasympathetic innervation of the gland starts with pre-ganglionic neurons that are part of CN VII, and then split off on their own as the chorda tympani n.  The chorda tympani n. runs with the lingual n. (a branch of CN V3) and then synapse in the submaxillary ganglion.  Post-ganglionic parasympathetic neurons from the submaxillary ganglion go on to innervate the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands.