Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate I · Head and Neck Anatomy · 07

Salivary glands

Three pairs of major glands make saliva: the parotid (largest and purely serous), the submandibular (mixed) and the sublingual (smallest and mostly mucous). The parotid duct opens on the cheek opposite the maxillary second molar, and the submandibular duct opens at the sublingual caruncle; that gland forms most salivary stones. Minor glands are scattered through the oral mucosa.

High-yield facts · 6

  1. Three paired major glands: parotid (largest, purely serous), submandibular (mixed, mostly serous), sublingual (smallest, mixed, mostly mucous).S49
  2. The parotid duct (Stensen) opens at the parotid papilla on the buccal mucosa opposite the maxillary second molar.T4
  3. The submandibular duct (Wharton) opens at the sublingual caruncle beside the lingual frenum.T4
  4. About 80-90% of salivary stones form in the submandibular gland, because its duct runs uphill and its saliva is thicker.T5
  5. Minor salivary glands are found throughout the oral mucosa except the gingiva and anterior hard palate; von Ebner glands lie near the circumvallate papillae.S52
  6. Parotid swelling occurs with mumps, bulimia and Sjögren syndrome.T5

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