SALIVARY GLANDS | Structure of salivary glands | Medicoze

         

In humans, the saliva is secreted by three pairs of major salivary glands and some minor salivary

glands.

MAJOR SALIVARY GLANDS

Major glands are:

• Parotid glands
• Submaxillary or submandibular glands
• Sublingual glands.

 Parotid Glands

Parotid glands are the largest of all salivary glands,situated at the side of the face just below and in front of the ear. Each gland weighs about 20 to 30 g in adults.Secretions from these glands are emptied into the oral cavity by Stensen duct. This duct is about 35 mm to 40 mm long and opens inside the cheek against the upper second molar tooth.

 Submaxillary Glands

Submaxillary glands or submandibular glands are located in submaxillary triangle, medial to mandible.Each gland weighs about 8 to 10 g. Saliva from these glands is emptied into the oral cavity by Wharton duct,which is about 40 mm long. The duct opens at the side of frenulum of tongue, by means of a small opening on the summit of papilla called caruncula sublingualis.

 Sublingual Glands

Sublingual glands are the smallest salivary glands situated in the mucosa at the floor of the mouth. Each gland weighs about 2 to 3 g. Saliva from these glands is poured into 5 to 15 small ducts called ducts of Rivinus.These ducts open on small papillae beneath the tongue.One of the ducts is larger and it is called Bartholin duct. It drains the anterior part of the gland and opens on caruncula sublingualis near the opening of submaxillary duct.

MINOR SALIVARY GLANDS

Lingual Mucus Glands

Lingual mucus glands are situated in posterior one third of the tongue, behind circumvallate papillae and at the tip and margins of tongue.

 Lingual Serous Glands

Lingual serous glands are located near circumvallate papillae and filiform papillae.

Buccal Glands

Buccal glands or molar glands are present between the mucus membrane and buccinator muscle. Four to five of these are larger and situated outside buccinator,around the terminal part of parotid duct.

 Labial Glands

Labial glands are situated beneath the mucus membrane around the orifice of mouth.

 Palatal Glands

Palatal glands are found beneath the mucus membrane of the soft palate.