DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBMANDIBULAR-GLAND AND ITS CLOSER NEIGHBORING STRUCTURES IN HUMAN EMBRYOS AND FETUSES OF 19-67 MM CRL

The fetal development and arrangement of the human submandibular gland was studied by means of serial sections of human embryos and fetuses ranging from 19 mm to 67 mm CRL. Computer assisted 3-dimensional recon struction leads to the following observations: 1. The orifice of the s ubmandibular duct is located in the medial paralingual sulcus. 2. Ther e is evidence that the extension and location of WHARTON's duct is inf luenced by the surrounding structures. 3. The surface of the submandib ular gland primordium shows impressions of the neighboring structures. 4. The glandular tissue is encapsulated in condensed mesenchyme.