Salivary gland

Salivary gland
Salivary gland
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Salivary glands: #1 is Parotid gland, #2 is Submandibular gland, #3 is Sublingual gland
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Salivary+Glands
Latin glandulae salivariae

The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands, glands with ducts, that produce saliva. They also secrete amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose. In other organisms such as insects, salivary glands are often used to produce biologically important proteins like silk or glues, and fly salivary glands contain polytene chromosomes that have been useful in genetic research.

Contents

Histology

The gland is internally divided into lobules. Blood vessels and nerves enter the glands at the hilum and gradually branch out into the lobules.

Ducts

In the duct system, the lumina are formed by intercalated ducts, which in turn join to form striated ducts. These drain into ducts situated between the lobes of the gland (called interlobar ducts or secretory ducts).

All of the human salivary glands terminate in the mouth, where the saliva proceeds to aid in digestion. The saliva that salivary glands release is quickly inactivated in the stomach by the acid that is present there.

Anatomy

The salivary glands are situated at the entrance to the gastrointestinal system to help begin the process of digestion.

Parotid glands

The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland and is found wrapped around the mandibular ramus. The secretion produced is mainly serous in nature and enters the oral cavity via Stensen's duct.

Submandibular glands

The submandibular glands are a pair of glands located beneath the lower jaws, superior to the digastric muscles. The secretion produced is a mixture of both serous fluid and mucus, and enters the oral cavity via Wharton's ducts. Approximately 70% of saliva in the oral cavity is produced by the submandibular glands, even though they are much smaller than the parotid glands.

Sublingual gland

The sublingual glands are a pair of glands located beneath the tongue, anterior to the submandibular glands. The secretion produced is mainly mucous in nature, however it is categorized as a mixed gland. Unlike the other two major glands, the ductal system of the sublingual glands do not have striated ducts, and exit from 8-20 excretory ducts. Approximately 5% of saliva entering the oral cavity come from these glands.

Minor salivary glands

There are over 600 minor salivary glands located throughout the oral cavity within the submucosa[1] of the oral mucosa. They are 1-2mm in diameter and unlike the other glands, they are not encapsulated by connective tissue only surrounded by it. The gland is usually a number of acini connected in a tiny lobule. A minor salivary gland may have a common excretory duct with another gland, or may have its own excretory duct. Their secretion is mainly mucous in nature (except for Von Ebner's glands) and have many functions such as coating the oral cavity with saliva. Problems with dentures are usually associated with minor salivary glands.[2]

Von Ebner's glands

Von Ebner's glands are glands found in circumvallate papillae of the tongue. They secrete a serous fluid that begin lipid hydrolysis. They facilitate the perception of taste.

Innervation

Salivary glands are innervated, either directly or indirectly, by the parasympathetic and sympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system. Both result in increased amylase output and volume flow.

  • Parasympathetic innervation to the salivary glands is carried via cranial nerves. The parotid gland receives its parasympathetic input from the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) via the otic ganglion, while the submandibular and sublingual glands receive their parasympathetic input from the facial nerve (CN VII) via the submandibular ganglion. These nerves release acetylcholine and substance P, which activate the IP3 and DAG pathways respectively.
  • Direct sympathetic innervation of the salivary glands takes place via preganglionic nerves in the thoracic segments T1-T3 which synapse in the superior cervical ganglion with postganglionic neurons that release norepinephrine, which is then received by β-adrenergic receptors on the acinar and ductal cells of the salivary glands, leading to an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and the corresponding increase of saliva secretion. Note that in this regard both parasympathetic and sympathetic stimuli result in an increase in salivary gland secretions.[3] The sympathetic nervous system also affects salivary gland secretions indirectly by innervating the blood vessels that supply the glands.

Role in disease

Micrograph of chronic inflammation of the salivary gland sialadenitis).
See mumps (parotiditis epidemica), Sjögren's syndrome, Mucocele, Graft versus host disease and Salivary gland neoplasm.

Salivary duct calculus may cause blockage of the ducts, causing pain and swelling of the gland because of cysts. Many anti-cancer treatments may impair salivary flow. Radiation therapy may cause permanent xerostomia, whereas chemotherapy may cause only temporary salivary impairment. Graft versus host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may manifest as dry mouth and many small mucoceles. Tumors of the salivary glands may occur.

A sialogram is a radiocontrast study of a salivary duct.

Saliva production may be pharmacologically stimulated by so called sialagogues (e.g., pilocarpin, cevimeline). It can also be suppressed by so called antisialagogues (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants, SSRI, antihypertensives, polypharmacy).

In other animals

In most vertebrates, saliva does not contain any enzymes, consisting of mucus and water only, and its primary function is to moisten food while eating. As a result, true salivary glands are rarely found in fish or aquatic tetrapods, although there are often individual mucus-secreting cells. Amphibians have a single salivary gland, the intermaxillary gland, located in the forward part of the palate. Reptiles and birds normally have only very small glands on the lips, palate, and base of the mouth, although there are some birds with large glands, which produce a sticky saliva that helps in nest-building. The distinct parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands are only developed in mammals.[4]

The salivary glands of some species, however, are modified to produce enzymes; salivary amylase is found in many, but by no means all, bird and mammal species (including humans, as noted above). Furthermore, the venom glands of poisonous snakes, Gila monsters, and some shrews, are modified salivary glands.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ A.R TEN CATE, "Oral histology. Development, structure, and function".(1998), 2003, 2008
  2. ^ Cate, A.R. Ten. hi dude Oral Histology: development, structure, and function. 5th ed. 1998. Page 3. ISBN 0-8151-2952-1.
  3. ^ Costanzo, L. (2006). Physiology, 3rd ed.. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 10:1-4160-2320-8. 
  4. ^ a b Romer, Alfred Sherwood; Parsons, Thomas S. (1977). The Vertebrate Body. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. pp. 299–300. ISBN 0-03-910284-X. 

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Salivary gland — One of the glands in the mouth that produce saliva. There are 3 major salivary glands. They are the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. Each of these glands is paired; there is one parotid gland on each side of the head, etc. The… …   Medical dictionary

  • salivary gland — noun any of three pairs of glands in the mouth and digestive system that secrete saliva for digestion • Hypernyms: ↑exocrine gland, ↑exocrine, ↑duct gland • Hyponyms: ↑parotid gland, ↑sublingual gland, ↑sublingual salivary gland, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • salivary gland — UK [səˈlaɪvərɪ ˌɡlænd] / US [ˈsælɪˌverɪ ˌɡlænd] noun [countable] Word forms salivary gland : singular salivary gland plural salivary glands medical any of the organs that produce the saliva in your mouth …   English dictionary

  • Salivary gland cancer — is a rare cancer that forms in tissues of a salivary gland (gland in the mouth that makes saliva). Most salivary gland cancers occur in older people External links * [http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/db alpha.aspx?CdrID=446528 Salivary gland… …   Wikipedia

  • salivary gland chromosome — noun A giant conspicuously banded chromosome found in the salivary glands of larvae of dipteran insects • • • Main Entry: ↑saliva …   Useful english dictionary

  • salivary gland chromosomes — salivary gland chromosomes. См. хромосомы слюнных желез. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • salivary gland squash preparation — salivary gland squash preparation. См. давленые препараты слюнных желез. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Salivary gland neoplasm — ICD9 = ICD9|142, ICD9|210.2 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 001040 eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D012468 Tumors of the salivary glands (salivary gland neoplasm) may occur. These are usually benign, but may be malignant. The most common… …   Wikipedia

  • salivary gland cancer — A rare cancer that forms in tissues of a salivary gland (gland in the mouth that makes saliva). Most salivary gland cancers occur in older people …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • salivary gland — Anat. any of several glands, as the submaxillary glands, that secrete saliva. [1700 10] * * * Any of the organs that secrete saliva. Three pairs of major glands secrete saliva into the mouth through distinct ducts: the parotid glands (the… …   Universalium

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