Salivary gland role in maintaining tooth and bacteria integrity on the oral cavity is done by:
a- Bacterial clearance.
b- remineralization.
c- Buffering and direct anti-bacterial role.
d- Bacterial clearance and reminerlization.***
The salivary glands are located in the head and neck.
They secrete a liquid called saliva.
Saliva contains water, electrolytes, mucus and enzymes.
The salivary glands are considered exocrine glands since they discharge their secretory product into channels.
Saliva enters the mouth through these channels.
Types of salivary glands:
The salivary glands are divided into major salivary glands and accessory salivary glands.
Main salivary glands:
There are 3 main salivary gland pairs, parotid, submaxillary and sublingual glands. They are the largest salivary glands and produce most of the saliva.
The parotid gland is the largest of the salivary glands. There are 2 parotid glands, one on each side of the face in front of each of the ears.
The submaxillary gland is smaller than the parotid gland. There are 2 submaxillary glands, each located behind the lower jaw, just under the chin and tongue on each side of the face.
The sublingual gland is the smallest of the main salivary glands. There are 2 sublingual glands. Each is buried deep in the floor of the mouth, on each side of the tongue. Saliva flows from the sublingual gland and enters the mouth through numerous small sublingual channels.
Salivary glands accessories:
There are 750 to 1,000 accessory salivary glands. They are very small. Most of them are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
About half of all accessory salivary glands are found on the hard palate, in the ceiling of the mouth. The accessory salivary glands are also present in the lips, cheeks, nose, sinuses surrounding the nose (paranasal sinuses), nasopharynx, larynx and trachea.
Other structures of the head and neck:
Lymph nodes and cranial nerves are other important structures of the head and neck.
Lymph nodes:
There are a large number of lymph nodes in the neck (cervical lymph nodes). These lymph nodes are grouped according to their location in the neck. Salivary gland cancer can spread to the cervical lymph nodes. Sometimes ganglion dissection is done to remove lymph nodes that contain cancer cells or to prevent the spread of cancer to these lymph nodes. Learn more about cervical lymph nodes and cervical lymph node dissection.
Cranial nerves:
The cranial nerves control many functions of the head and neck, such as swallowing (swallowing), vision, smell, hearing and eye movement. Some cranial nerves pass through the main salivary glands. Sometimes salivary gland tumors can spread to the cranial nerves. If the cranial nerves are in the treatment area, your care team will take care to protect these nerves as much as possible. Sometimes salivary gland tumors or treatments cause damage to the cranial nerves, which can lead to temporary or permanent problems.
Function:
The salivary glands play an important role in digestion since they produce saliva. Saliva helps moisten food so it can be swallowed more easily. It also contains an enzyme called amylase that helps the stomach break down starch from food more easily.
Saliva also plays an important role in oral health. Saliva prevents infections of the mouth and throat, helps keep teeth healthy and prevents bad breath. It also moistens the oral cavity, which helps swallow and talk.
The salivary glands are located in the head and neck.
They secrete a liquid called saliva.
Saliva contains water, electrolytes, mucus and enzymes.
The salivary glands are considered exocrine glands since they discharge their secretory product into channels.
Saliva enters the mouth through these channels.
Types of salivary glands:
The salivary glands are divided into major salivary glands and accessory salivary glands.
Main salivary glands:
There are 3 main salivary gland pairs, parotid, submaxillary and sublingual glands. They are the largest salivary glands and produce most of the saliva.
The parotid gland is the largest of the salivary glands. There are 2 parotid glands, one on each side of the face in front of each of the ears.
The submaxillary gland is smaller than the parotid gland. There are 2 submaxillary glands, each located behind the lower jaw, just under the chin and tongue on each side of the face.
The sublingual gland is the smallest of the main salivary glands. There are 2 sublingual glands. Each is buried deep in the floor of the mouth, on each side of the tongue. Saliva flows from the sublingual gland and enters the mouth through numerous small sublingual channels.
Salivary glands accessories:
There are 750 to 1,000 accessory salivary glands. They are very small. Most of them are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
About half of all accessory salivary glands are found on the hard palate, in the ceiling of the mouth. The accessory salivary glands are also present in the lips, cheeks, nose, sinuses surrounding the nose (paranasal sinuses), nasopharynx, larynx and trachea.
Other structures of the head and neck:
Lymph nodes and cranial nerves are other important structures of the head and neck.
Lymph nodes:
There are a large number of lymph nodes in the neck (cervical lymph nodes). These lymph nodes are grouped according to their location in the neck. Salivary gland cancer can spread to the cervical lymph nodes. Sometimes ganglion dissection is done to remove lymph nodes that contain cancer cells or to prevent the spread of cancer to these lymph nodes. Learn more about cervical lymph nodes and cervical lymph node dissection.
Cranial nerves:
The cranial nerves control many functions of the head and neck, such as swallowing (swallowing), vision, smell, hearing and eye movement. Some cranial nerves pass through the main salivary glands. Sometimes salivary gland tumors can spread to the cranial nerves. If the cranial nerves are in the treatment area, your care team will take care to protect these nerves as much as possible. Sometimes salivary gland tumors or treatments cause damage to the cranial nerves, which can lead to temporary or permanent problems.
Function:
The salivary glands play an important role in digestion since they produce saliva. Saliva helps moisten food so it can be swallowed more easily. It also contains an enzyme called amylase that helps the stomach break down starch from food more easily.
Saliva also plays an important role in oral health. Saliva prevents infections of the mouth and throat, helps keep teeth healthy and prevents bad breath. It also moistens the oral cavity, which helps swallow and talk.
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