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Salivary Glands (Excretory Glands Producing ~1.5 L Saliva/Day), within the…
Salivary Glands (Excretory Glands Producing ~1.5 L Saliva/Day)
Minor Salivary Glands
Excretory Mechanism
Open directly into the oral cavity via short, microscopic ducts
Distribution Types
Buccal glands
Labial glands
Molar glands
near molar teeth
Palatine glands
Features
Numerous small glands embedded directly beneath the oral mucosa
Major Salivary Glands (3 Paired Glands)
Parotid Gland (Largest / Pure Serous)
Anatomical Location
Below & anterior to the external acoustic meatus; posterior to the ramus of the mandible
Surgical Landmark
Facial Nerve (CN VII) enters and divides within the gland substance into terminal branches (high risk of facial paralysis during parotidectomy)
Size & Secretion
Largest salivary gland; purely serous secretion
Excretory Duct
Path
Crosses masseter muscle → pierces buccinator muscle
Opening
Opens at the parotid papilla in the oral vestibule opposite the upper 2nd molar
Submandibular Gland (Intermediate / Seromucous)
Size & Secretion
Oval-shaped gland; mixed seromucous secretion
Anatomical Location
Below & anterior to the angle of the mandible in the submandibular triangle
Excretory Duct: Wharton’s Duct (Submandibular duct)
Opens at the sublingual caruncle (beside the lingual frenulum, behind lower incisors)
Sublingual Gland (Smallest / Mucous)
Anatomical Location
Situated in the floor of the mouth on either side of the lingual frenulum; elevates mucosa to form the sublingual fold
Excretory Ducts
Possesses multiple small excretory ducts (ducts of Rivinus/Bartholin) that open along the crest of the sublingual fold
Size & Secretion
Smallest major gland; predominantly mucous secretion
within the lips
within the cheeks
in the hard and soft palate