| Objective To discuss the possibility of free sublingual gland grafting for the management of xerophthalmia.Methods The sublingual glandular's size, arterial origin and venous return , adjacent relation, the course and out diameter of blood vessels were observed in 30 sides adult head and neck specimens perfused with red latex. To find the origin of the anastomotic blood vessels. Measure their out diameter. To simulate operation in two sides specimens.Result The sublingual gland is slender and flat. Its plan form is nearly lumbar triangle. The average length is 5.0± 1.0 cm, broad of cheek-lingua is 0.5 ±0.1 cm, length from superior to below is 2.2 ±0.5 cm. The size of sublingual gland is minimum in the three salivary glands . Major sublingual duct open in sublingual caruncle anterior of the gland with submandibular duct(92.6%, 25 sides) oralone (7.4%, 2sides) .Itslengthis (l.l±0.2) cm.O.Dis (2.30±0.57) mm. Sublingual gland is mainly supplied with sublingual artery (93.3%, 28 sides) and submental artery (6.7%, 2 sides) . The initial calibers are (1.92±0.36) mm and (1.96 ± 0.54) mm. It's venous accompanied with artery join in internal jugular vein. The vessel used to be anastomotic is frontal branch of superficial temporal artery. Its initial caliber is (1.97±0.33) mm.Conclusion The side of sublingual gland is smallness and can be grafted into the fossa for lacrimal gland. The major sublingual duct can used as lacrimal gland duct open in fornix conjunctivae superior by suture with mucosa.. The out diameters of sublingual artery and submental artery are thick enough to be anastomotic. The angio- pedicel of frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery is long , accompanied with venous and translocated actively. So can be anastomosed with sublingual artery or submental artery. Therefor, it is feasible that free grafting of sublingual gland treat with severe xerophthalmia based on anatomy. |
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