Wharton's duct

Wharton's duct (also known as the submandibular duct) is a crucial component of the salivary gland system in humans and most mammals. Named after the British anatomist, Thomas Wharton, it is responsible for transporting saliva from the submandibular gland and the sublingual gland to the mouth.

Anatomy

Wharton's duct begins at the anterior edge of the submandibular gland and runs forward in the sublingual space. It then turns medially, passing either over or deep to the mylohyoid muscle, and opens at the sublingual caruncle, located at the side of the lingual frenulum.

Function

The primary function of Wharton's duct is to transport saliva produced by the submandibular and sublingual glands into the mouth. This saliva plays a vital role in the initial stages of digestion, lubricating and breaking down food, as well as maintaining oral health by washing away bacteria and food particles.

Clinical significance

Blockage or infection of Wharton's duct can lead to a number of medical conditions. Sialolithiasis, the formation of salivary stones, is the most common disease affecting the salivary glands and often occurs in Wharton's duct. Other conditions include sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary gland), sialadenosis (non-inflammatory enlargement of the salivary gland), and mucocele (mucus-filled cysts).

See also

• Salivary gland
• Sialolithiasis
• Sialadenitis
• Sialadenosis
• Mucocele