The salivary glands make saliva and empty it into your mouth through openings called ducts. Saliva helps with swallowing and chewing. It can also help prevent infections from developing in your mouth or throat.

There are two types of salivary glands:

Created for the National Cancer Institute, http://www.cancer.gov
  • the major salivary glands
  • the minor salivary glands

Major Salivary Glands

The major salivary glands are the largest and most important salivary glands. They produce most of the saliva in your mouth.There are three pairs of major glands: the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands.

Parotid Glands

The parotid glands are the largest salivary glands. They are located just in front of the ears. The saliva produced in these glands is secreted into the mouth from a duct near your upper second molar.

Each parotid gland has two parts, or lobes: the superficial lobe and the deep lobe. Between the two lobes is the facial nerve. The facial nerve is important because it controls your ability to close your eyes, raise your eyebrows, and smile.

Other critical structures near the parotid glands include the external carotid artery, which is a major supplier of blood to the head and neck region, and the retromandibular vein, a branch of the jugular vein.

Submandibular Glands

About the size of a walnut, the submandibular glands are located below the jaw. The saliva produced in these glands is secreted into the mouth from under the tongue.

Like the parotid glands, the submandibular glands have two parts called the superficial lobe and the deep lobe. Nearby structures include:

  • the marginal mandibular nerve, which helps you smile
  • the platysma muscle, which helps you move your lower lip
  • the lingual nerve, which allows sensation in your tongue
  • the hypoglossal nerve, which allows movement in the part of your tongue that helps with speech and swallowing

Sublingual Glands

The sublingual glands are the smallest of the major salivary glands. These almond-shaped structures are located under the floor of the mouth and below either side of the tongue.

Minor Salivary Glands

There are hundreds of minor salivary glands throughout the mouth and the aerodigestive tract. Unlike the major salivary glands, these glands are too small to be seen without a microscope. Most are found in the lining of the lips, the tongue, and the roof of the mouth, as well as inside the cheeks, nose, sinuses, and larynx (voice box).

Medika Life

Medika Life is a digital Health Publication for both the medical profession and the public. Make informed decisions about your health and stay up to date with the latest developments and technological advances in the fields of medicine.

Recent Posts

Shining a Light on Early Cancer Detection

Cancer that is diagnosed at an early stage, before it has grown and spread through…

3 days ago

Overwork Is Rewiring Your Brain. Here’s What Neuroscience Wants You to Know

Most days, I aim radiation at tumors. But the most profound insights sometimes come in…

5 days ago

How Unconscious Beliefs Distort Our Perception of Disability

With around 25% of the adult population being disabled, the US is home to one…

5 days ago

Back to the Future of Medicine: The Physician Reimagined

Healthcare is in constant motion—bending to social pressures, economic realities, and technological breakthroughs. But if…

5 days ago

Retreating from the Opportunity of a Century

Why the American healthcare sector should oppose plans for U.S. diplomatic withdrawal from Africa. Imagine…

5 days ago

Beyond Data: Why Human Decisions Are Shaped by Facts, Feelings—and the Fire Within

“Branding is a matter of building trust and committing to a level of quality and…

1 week ago

This website uses cookies. Your continued use of the site is subject to the acceptance of these cookies. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.

Read More