WHERE ARE SALIVARY GLANDS?
The glands are located in and around the mouth and throat. The major salivary glands are called the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands. (See illustration) They all secrete saliva into the mouth: the parotid through ducts near the upper teeth, submandibular into the front portion under the tongue, and the sublingual through multiple ducts in the floor of the mouth. In addition to these glands, there are hundreds of tiny glands called minor salivary glands located in the lips, inner cheek area (buccal mucosa) and extensively in other linings of the mouth and throat. Salivary glands produce the saliva used to moisten your mouth, initiate digestion, and help protect teeth from decay. WHAT CAUSES ABNORMAL GLANDS? Abnormalities of the salivary glands which cause clinical symptoms can be grouped as follows: I. OBSTRUCTION Obstruction to the flow of saliva most commonly occurs in the parotid and submandibular glands, usually due to stone formation. Symptoms typically occur when eatin
