SALIVARY GLANDS

Origin: ectoderm, developing oral cavity epithelium

Function: secretion of saliva

Functions of saliva:

• Moistening dry foods to aid swallowing

• Providing a medium for dissolved and suspended
food materials that chemically stimulate taste buds
• Buffering of the contents of the oral cavity through
its high concentration of bicarbonate ion
• Digestion of carbohydrates by the digestive enzyme
alpha-amylase
• Controlling the bacterial flora because of the
presence of the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme
• Source of calcium and phosphate ions essential for
normal tooth maintenance

MAJOR GLANDS

Paired glands with long ducts:

PAROTID GLAND
Location: subcutaneously, below and in front of ear.

Composition:

• Capsule of moderately dense connective tissue with

septa, loose connective tissue and white adipose tissue
between the secretory acini, blood vessels, facial nerve
(cranial nerve VII).
• Secretory acini (portions) are spherical and are
organized into lobules and lobes.

Cells:

 Serous (epithelial) cells

Function: protein secretion.

 Myoepithelial cells

Location: between the serous cells and the

basal lamina of epithelium.

Function: move the secretory products toward

the excretory duct by contraction.

• Intercalated ducts are lined by low cuboidal

epithelial cells.

Function: conduit the secretory products, secrete

bicarbonate ion into the acinar product, absorb chloride ion
from the acinar product.

• Striated ducts are lined by simple cuboidal or

columnar epithelium.

Function: conduit the secretory products, reabsorb sodium

from the primary secretion, add potassium to the secretion.

• Excretory ducts are lined by stratified cuboidal or

pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
 Location: the principal duct (Stensen's duct) travel in the
connective tissue of the face and enter the oral cavity
opposite the second upper molar tooth.

SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND
Location: under the floor of the mouth, close to the mandible.

Composition:

• Capsule of moderately dense connective tissue with

septa, loose connective tissue between the secretory acini,
blood vessels, nerves.
• Secretory acini (portions) are predominantly
spherical and are organized into lobules and lobes.

Cells:

 Serous (epithelial) cells are predominant.

Function: protein secretion.

 Mucous (epithelial) cells

Function: mucin secretion.

 Myoepithelial cells

Location: between the serous cells and the

basal lamina of epithelium.

Function: move the secretory products toward

the excretory duct by contraction.

• Intercalated ducts are lined by low cuboidal

epithelial cells
 Function: conduit the secretory products, secrete
bicarbonate ion into the acinar product, absorb chloride ion
from the acinar product.

• Striated ducts are lined by simple cuboidal or

columnar epithelium

Function: conduit the secretory products, reabsorb sodium

from the primary secretion, add potassium to the secretion.

• Excretory ducts are lined by stratified cuboidal or

pseudostratified columnar epithelium.

Location: the principal duct (Wharton's duct) travel in the

connective tissue of the neck and enter the oral cavity on
the floor of the mouth just lateral to the frenulum of the
tongue.

SUBLINGUAL GLAND
Location: in the floor of the mouth anterior to the
submandibular gland.

Composition:

• Capsule of moderately dense connective tissue with

septa, loose connective tissue between the secretory acini,
blood vessels, nerves.
• Secretory acini (portions): the mucous secretory units
may be more tubular than purely acinar and are organized
into lobules.

Cells:

 Mucous (epithelial) cells are predominant.

Function: mucin secretion.

  Serous (epithelial) cells

Function: protein secretion.

 Myoepithelial cells

Location: between the serous cells and the basal

lamina of epithelium.

Function: move the secretory products toward the

excretory duct by contraction.

• Ducts are lined by columnar epithelium or

pseudostratified columnar epithelium and empty into the
submandibular duct as well as directly onto the floor of the
mouth.

MINOR GLANDS:

Location: simple branched tubular and acinar glands in the

submucosa of oral cavity.

• Lingual glands
• Labial glands
• Buccal glands
• Palatine glands
The salivary glands arise only in the later embryonic
period (stage 18, ca. 44 days, 18 ). The first sign is a
thickening of the epithelium on the side of the tongue,
outside the anlage of the dental arch (lamina dentalis).
In the labiogingival sulcus, on the exterior of the
labiodental lamina, arises the anlage of the ectodermal
parotid gland (serous glands).
In the linguogingival sulcus that lies towards the tongue,
the sublingual (mucous) and submandibular (sero-
mucous) glands arise, which have an endodermal origin.
They arise in the hyoid arch region.