Salivary Glands- structure

Summary

The script discusses the anatomy, classification, and function of salivary glands in the oral cavity. It highlights the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) and minor salivary glands, explaining their structure, size, secretion types, and roles in producing saliva. Saliva aids in lubrication, cleansing, and taste perception, with different glands secreting serous, mucous, or mixed saliva. Key anatomical features, including the acini and duct systems, are compared to a 'bunch of grapes,' and the role of the von Ebner glands in taste function is emphasized.

Takeaways

• 💧 The oral cavity is kept moist by saliva, which is produced by salivary glands located around the mouth.
• 🍇 Salivary glands are exocrine, compound, tubulo-acinar, and merocrine glands, functioning like a bunch of grapes with a duct system that carries saliva to the oral cavity.
• 🔍 Salivary glands are classified based on size (major and minor) and the type of saliva they secrete (serous, mucous, or mixed).
• 🌟 Major salivary glands include the parotid (serous), submandibular (mixed), and sublingual (mucous) glands, each contributing different types of saliva to the oral cavity.
• 🦷 Minor salivary glands, such as labial, buccal, lingual, and palatine glands, are small, numerous, and primarily mucous in nature, except for the von Ebner glands, which are serous.
• 🏋️‍♀️ The parotid gland, the largest salivary gland, produces 25% of saliva and has a long excretory duct called Stenson's duct.
• 🔑 The submandibular gland is J-shaped, contributes 65% of saliva, and has a main excretory duct called Wharton's duct.
• 📏 The sublingual gland, the smallest major salivary gland, secretes only 5% of saliva, mostly mucous, through the ducts of Rivinus and Bartholin's duct.
• 🚫 Minor salivary glands do not have a fibrous capsule and are not present in the gingiva, the anterolateral part of the palate, and the anterior two-thirds of the dorsum of the tongue.
• 🧼 The von Ebner glands, located near circumvallate papillae, release watery saliva to help cleanse food particles from taste buds.

Q & A

What are the main components of salivary glands?

Salivary glands have two main components: the secreting end piece or acini, which produce saliva, and the duct system, which carries the saliva from the acini to the oral cavity.

How are salivary glands classified based on their type of secretion?

Salivary glands are classified into serous glands (which secrete watery saliva), mucous glands (which secrete viscous saliva), and mixed glands (which secrete both types of saliva).

What type of glands are salivary glands, and why?

Salivary glands are exocrine, compound, tubulo-acinar, merocrine glands. They are exocrine because they release saliva into ducts rather than directly into the bloodstream. They are merocrine because their secretory process involves exocytosis without loss of cytoplasm.

What are the major salivary glands, and how much saliva do they produce?

The three major salivary glands are the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. Together, they produce about 95% of the total saliva in the oral cavity.

What is unique about the von Ebner glands?

The von Ebner glands are unique because they are serous glands located near the circumvallate papillae of the tongue. They produce watery saliva to help cleanse food particles from the taste buds after taste perception.

Where is the parotid gland located, and what type of saliva does it produce?

The parotid gland is located anterior to the external ear, superficial to the ramus and masseter muscle. It produces serous saliva, which is watery in nature.

What is the function of the ducts in salivary glands?

The ducts in salivary glands transport saliva from the acini to the oral cavity. These ducts also modify the saliva, especially in tubulo-acinar glands.

How does saliva help in the lubrication of the oral cavity?

Saliva lubricates the oral cavity by forming a thin film over the oral mucosa. Mucous saliva, which is more viscous, helps in forming this protective and lubricating layer.

What role do minor salivary glands play in saliva production?

Minor salivary glands, although small and numerous (600-1000 in number), contribute about 5% of the total saliva. Most of them produce mucous saliva, which is important for lubrication.

What anatomical areas in the oral cavity lack minor salivary glands?

There are no minor salivary glands in the gingiva, the anterolateral part of the palate, and the anterior two-thirds of the dorsum of the tongue.