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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2012) |
| Salivary gland |
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| Salivary glands: #1 is Parotid gland, #2 is Submandibular gland, #3 is Sublingual gland |
| 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.
Contents
- 1 Histology
- 2 Anatomy
- 2.1 Parotid glands
- 2.2 Submandibular glands
- 2.3 Sublingual glands
- 2.4 Minor salivary glands
- 3 Innervation
- 4 Pathology
- 5 Other species
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- 8 External links
Histology[edit source | edit]
The gland is internally divided into lobules. Blood vessels and nerves enter the glands at the hilum and gradually branch out into the lobules.
Acini[edit source | edit]
Secretory cells are found in a group, or acinus (plural, acini). Each acinus is located at the terminal part of the gland connected to the ductal system, with many acini within each lobule of the gland. Each acinus consists of a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells surrounding a lumen, a central opening where the saliva is deposited after being produced by the secretory cells. The three forms of acini are classified in terms of the type of epithelial cell present and the secretory product being produced: serous, mucoserous, mucous.[1]
Ducts[edit source | edit]
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). These are found on most major and minor glands (exception may be the sublingual gland).[1]
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 but the saliva also contains enzymes that are actually activated by the acid.
Anatomy[edit source | edit]
The salivary glands are situated at the entrance to the gastrointestinal system to help begin the process of digestion.
Parotid glands[edit source | edit]
Main article: Parotid gland
The parotid gland are a pair of major salivary glands wrapped around the mandibular ramus in humans. It is one of a pair being the largest of the salivary glands, it secretes saliva to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches. The secretion produced is mainly serous in nature and enters the oral cavity via the parotid duct or Stensen duct. It is located posterior to the mandibular ramus and anterior to the mastoid process of temporal bone. This gland is clinically relevant in dissections of facial nerve branches while exposing the different lobes of it since any iatrogenic lesion will result in either loss of action or strength of muscles involved in facial expression.
Submandibular glands[edit source | edit]
Main article: Submandibular gland
The submandibular glands are a pair of major salivary 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 the submandibular duct or Wharton duct. Approximately 70% of saliva in the oral cavity is produced by the submandibular glands, even though they are much smaller than the parotid glands.You can usually feel this gland, as it is in the superficial cervical region and feels like a rounded ball. It is located about two fingers above the Adam's apple (on a man) and about two inches apart under the chin.
Sublingual glands[edit source | edit]
Main article: Sublingual gland
The sublingual glands are a pair of major salivary glands located inferior to the tongue, anterior to the submandibular glands. The secretion produced is mainly mucus 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 intercalated ducts and usually do not have striated ducts either so they exit directly from 8-20 excretory ducts. Approximately 5% of saliva entering the oral cavity come from these glands.
Minor salivary glands[edit source | edit]
There are 800-1000 minor salivary glands located throughout the oral cavity within the submucosa[2] of the oral mucosa in the tissue of the buccal, labial, and lingual mucosa, the soft palate, the lateral parts of the hard palate, and the floor of the mouth or between muscle fibers of the tongue.[3] They are 1-2mm in diameter and unlike the major glands, they are not encapsulated by connective tissue, only surrounded by it. The gland has 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 glands- see next section) and have many functions such as coating the oral cavity with saliva. Problems with dentures are sometimes associated with minor salivary glands if there is dry mouth present (see further discussion).[2] The minor salivary glands are innervated by the seventh cranial or facial nerve.[4]
Von Ebner glands[edit source | edit]
Main article: Von Ebner's glands
Von Ebner glands are glands found in a trough circling the circumvallate papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue near the sulcus terminalis. They secrete a purely serous fluid that begins lipid hydrolysis. They also facilitate the perception of taste through secretion of digestive enzymes and proteins.[2]
Innervation[edit source | edit]
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.[5] The sympathetic nervous system also affects salivary gland secretions indirectly by innervating the blood vessels that supply the glands.
Pathology[edit source | edit]
Micrograph of chronic inflammation of the salivary gland sialadenitis).
Main article: Salivary gland disease
- A sialogram is a radiocontrast study of a salivary duct.
- Salivary duct calculus may cause blockage of the ducts, causing pain and swelling of the gland because of cysts.
- Saliva production may be pharmacologically stimulated by sialagogues (e.g., pilocarpin, cevimeline). It can also be suppressed by so-called antisialagogues (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants, SSRI, antihypertensives, polypharmacy).[6] Many anti-cancer treatments may impair salivary flow such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may cause permanent hyposalivation due to injury to the oral mucosa containing the salivary glands, resulting in dry mouth or 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.
Other species[edit source | edit]
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.[6] 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.
See also[edit source | edit]
- Large intestine
- Sialome
- Small intestine
References[edit source | edit]
- ^ a b Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy, Bath-Balogh and Fehrenbach, Elsevier, 2011, page 132
- ^ a b c Ten Cate's Oral Histology, Nanci, Elsevier, 2013, page 275-276
- ^ Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2012, p. 157
- ^ Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2012, p. 157
- ^ Costanzo, L. (2006). Physiology, 3rd ed. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 10:1-4160-2320-8 .
- ^ 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[edit source | edit]
- Salivary Gland Disorders at intelihealth.com
- Illustration at merck.com
- Illustration at .washington.edu
- plastic/371 at eMedicine - "Parotid Tumors, Benign"
- Medical Encyclopedia Medline Plus: Salivary gland
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Head and neck anatomy, digestive system: Mouth anatomy (TA A05.1–2, TH H3.04.01, GA 11.1110–2, 1125–1141)
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| Mouth |
Oral cavity
(including
mucosa) |
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Vestibule
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Lip (Upper, Lower, Vermilion border, Frenulum of lower lip, Labial commissure of mouth, Philtrum)
Cheek (Buccal fat pad)
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Oral cavity proper
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Palate/
roof of mouth
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Hard palate · Soft palate · Palatine raphe · Incisive papilla
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Gingiva
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Interdental papilla · Gingival sulcus · Gingival margin · Free gingival margin · Gingival fibers · Junctional epithelium · Mucogingival junction · Sulcular epithelium · Stippling
Periodontium: Cementum · Gingiva · Periodontal ligament
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Glands
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Parotid gland/Parotid duct · Submandibular gland/Submandibular duct · Sublingual gland/Major sublingual duct
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Teeth
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see tooth anatomy
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Tongue
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dorsum (Taste bud, Median sulcus, Terminal sulcus, Foramen cecum, Lingual tonsils) · ventral surface (Frenulum, Fimbriated fold, Sublingual caruncle) · Anterior · Posterior · Glossoepiglottic folds · Lingual septum
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Oro-pharynx/
fauces |
Oropharyngeal isthmus/Isthmus of the fauces
Soft palate (Uvula, Palatoglossal arch, Palatopharyngeal arch, Plica semilunaris of the fauces)
Tonsillar fossa
Palatine tonsil
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noco/cofa (c)/cogi/tumr, sysi
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