Surgical anatomy of the lingual nerve and submandibular duct in the sublingual space

The surgical anatomy of the sublingual space has been studied in 100 cadavers. Special stress was laid upon the anatomical variations and relations of the lingual nerve and submandibular duct and their surgical importance. Accessory submandibular ducts have been found in 3 cadavers [3%]. The classical double crossing has been observed in 77 cadavers [77%]. In these cadavers the site of lateral crossing has been found most commonly at the junction of the posterior and middle thirds of the duct. In the remaining cadavers [23%] the lingual nerve displayed variable relations to the submandibular duct