Salivary glands Flashcards
The main function
to produce saliva. saliva is released into mouth where it is essential to oral health
also secrete saliva when eating
Parotid
located between the ramus of mandible + ear + deep to muscles in that area. the largest of 3 glands
Submandibular
located in posterior area of floor of mouth below the mylohyoid muscle. the longest of the 3 glands + most likely to become blocked by salivary stones
Sublingual
located in anterior area of floor of mouth above the mylohyoid muscle
Parotid salivary gland
- serous watery secretions
- high inorganic content (calcium bicarbonate)
- responsible for 20% of unstimulated salivary flow
- rises to 50-60% for stimulated salivary flow
Submandibular salivary gland
- mixture of serous + mucous secretions
- responsible for 65% of unstimulated salivary flow
Sublingual salivary gland
- mucous secretions (more viscous)
- responsible for 5-7% of unstimulated salivary flow
Minor salivary glands
in lips + oral mucosa (especially buccal) are collectively responsible for 8-10% of salivary flow
The function of all salivary glands
to produce the secretion saliva, which is deposited from the glands into the oral cavity only - it occurs nowhere else in the body
The saliva is transported
to the oral cavity through tube-like structures called ducts, so salivary glands are classed as exocrine glands
Other structures elsewhere in the body
are classed as endocrine glands - their secretions pass directly into the adjacent blood vessels (without travelling through ducts) + are transported by the circulatory system to their area of action. examples are certain glands within pancreas, stomach, liver + adrenal glands that lie over the kidneys
Both types of glands
have their secretions controlled by the effects of motor nerve transmission, via the autonomic nervous system
