Question

three types of salivary glands and describe their functions

Answer 1

• There are three pairs of large salivary glands - The parotid, Submandibular, and Sublingual.
• In addition,there are numerous small glands in the tongue,the palate,the cheeks and the lips.
• These glands produce saliva which keeps the oral cavity moist,and helps in chewing and swallowing.
• The saliva also contains enzymes that aid digestion.

The Parotid Gland

• The parotid is the largest of the salivary glands.It weighs about 15grams
• It is situated below the external acoustic meatus,between the ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoid.
• The parotid is serous salivary gland produces sakiva which helps in mastication and the primary digestion of food in the mouth with the help of salivary enzymes.

The Submandibular Gland

• The submandibular salivary gland ,situated in the anterior part of digastric triangle.
• The gland is about the size of a walnut and it is J - shaped ,being indented by the posterior border of mylohyoid which divides it into a larger part superficial to the muscle and a small part lying deep to the muscle
• The Function is to produce saliva and the salivary duct is Wharton duct.

​​​​​​​The Sublingual Gland

• This is the samllest among the three salivary glands.
• It is amond shaped and weighs about 3 to 4g.
• It lies above the mylohyoid,medial to the sublingual fossa of the mandible and lateral to the genioglossus.
• About 15 ducts emerge from the gland .Most of them open directly into the floor of the mouth on the summit of the sublingual fold.
• The functions of all the salivary galnds is to secrete saliva to the oral cavity through ducts to keep the oral cavity moist and help in mastication.

​​​​​​​

• ​​​​​​​