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The two parotid glands are major salivary glands wrapped around the mandibular ramus in humans. [6] These are largest of the salivary glands, secreting saliva to facilitate mastication and swallowing, and amylase to begin the digestion of starches. [7] It is the serous type of gland which secretes alpha-amylase (also known as ptyalin). [8]
The superficial location of the salivary glands allows palpation and visual inspection. The inspection must be systematic, both intraorally and extraorally, so no area is missed. For extraoral examination the patients head should be inclined forwards in order to maximally expose the parotid and submandibular glands.
The paired submandibular glands (historically known as submaxillary glands) are major salivary glands located beneath the floor of the mouth.In adult humans, they each weigh about 15 grams and contribute some 60–67% of unstimulated saliva secretion; on stimulation their contribution decreases in proportion as parotid gland secretion rises to 50%. [1]
The submandibular duct (also Wharton's duct or historically submaxillary duct) is one of the salivary excretory ducts. It is about 5 cm long, and its wall is much thinner than that of the parotid duct. It drains saliva from each bilateral submandibular gland and sublingual gland to the sublingual caruncle in the floor of the mouth.
Blockage, whether caused by salivary duct stones or external compression, may cause pain and swelling of the parotid gland . Koplik's spots which are pathognomonic of measles are found near the opening of the parotid duct. The parotid duct may be cannulated by inserting a tube through the internal orifice in the mouth. [2]
Pneumoparotitis is often misdiagnosed and incorrectly managed. [5] The diagnosis is based mainly on the history. [1] Crepitus may be elicited on palpation of the parotid swelling, [1] and massaging the gland may give rise to frothy saliva or air bubbles from the parotid papilla. [1]
The sublingual gland (glandula sublingualis) is a seromucous polystomatic exocrine gland. Located underneath the oral diaphragm (diaphragma oris), the sublingual gland is the smallest and most diffuse of the three major salivary glands of the oral cavity, with the other two being the submandibular and parotid. The sublingual gland provides ...
Sialadenitis (sialoadenitis) is inflammation of salivary glands, usually the major ones, the most common being the parotid gland, followed by submandibular and sublingual glands. [1] It should not be confused with sialadenosis (sialosis) which is a non-inflammatory enlargement of the major salivary glands. [2]