II. Anatomy
- Minor Salivary Glands
- Hundreds throughout mouth
- Line the mucosa of the lips, Tongue and oropharynx
- Major Salivary Glands (3 on each side of face)
- Parotid Gland (cheek)
- Submandibular Gland (under angle of the jaw)
- Sublingual Gland (under Tongue)
III. Physiology
- Saliva function
- Controls oral pH
- Assists with food intake
- Lubricates food bolus
- Contains amylase for CarbohydrateDigestion
- Mouth cleansing and Oral Hygiene
- Saliva limits oral pathogen growth
- Reduces oral odor (halitosis)
- Differential Saliva production by glands
- Unstimulated Salivation (Salivary Gland at rest)
- 1.5 Liters produced per day (basal rate)
- Major Salivary Glands: 90% of Saliva produced
- Submandibular and Sublingual Glands: 70% of Saliva
- Stimulated Salivation
- Saliva production increases 5 fold
- Parotid Gland produces majority of Saliva
- Unstimulated Salivation (Salivary Gland at rest)
- Innervation
- Parasympathetic innervation to major Salivary Glands
- Otic Ganglion fibers supply Parotid Gland
- Submandibular Ganglion supplies other major glands
- Sympathetic innervation promotes Saliva flow
- Stimulates Muscle Contractions at Salivary ducts
- Parasympathetic innervation to major Salivary Glands
IV. Associated Conditions: Pathologic Salivary Gland Conditions
- Sialadenitis (Salivary Gland Infection)
- Sialolithiasis (Salivary duct calculus)
- Ptyalism or Sialorrhea (Drooling)
- Xerostomia (Decreased Saliva Secretion)
- Salivary Gland Tumor
- Salivary Gland Enlargement