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There are three pairs of main salivary glands and between 800 and 1,000 minor salivary glands, all of which mainly serve the digestive process, and also play an important role in the maintenance of dental health and general mouth lubrication, without which speech would be impossible. [11] The main glands are all exocrine glands, secreting via ...
Sialolithiasis (also termed salivary calculi, [1] or salivary stones) [1] is a crystallopathy where a calcified mass or sialolith forms within a salivary gland, usually in the duct of the submandibular gland (also termed "Wharton's duct"). Less commonly the parotid gland or rarely the sublingual gland or a minor salivary gland may develop ...
The function of the salivary glands is to secrete saliva, which has a lubricating function, which protects the mucosa of the mouth during eating and speaking. [2] Saliva also contains digestive enzymes (e.g. salivary amylase ), has antimicrobial action, and acts as a buffer . [ 3 ]
The two parotid glands are major salivary glands wrapped around the mandibular ramus in humans. [6] These are largest of the salivary glands, secreting saliva to facilitate mastication and swallowing, and amylase to begin the digestion of starches. [7] It is the serous type of gland which secretes alpha-amylase (also known as ptyalin). [8]
Exocrine function: The primary role of salivary glands is to produce and secrete saliva into the oral cavity through ducts. This secretion is vital for various digestive processes, including moistening food to aid in swallowing , breaking down complex carbohydrates through the enzyme amylase , and providing lubrication for speech and mastication .
Sialadenitis (sialoadenitis) is inflammation of salivary glands, usually the major ones, the most common being the parotid gland, followed by submandibular and sublingual glands. [1] It should not be confused with sialadenosis (sialosis) which is a non-inflammatory enlargement of the major salivary glands. [2]
Lactoperoxidase (LPO, EC 1.11.1.7) is a peroxidase enzyme secreted from mammary, salivary, tears and other mucosal glands including the lungs, bronchii and nose [5] that function as a natural, first line of defense against bacteria and viral agents. [6] Lactoperoxidase is a member of the heme peroxidase family of enzymes.
The salivary glands (30) produce saliva; the salivary ducts lead from the glands to the reservoirs and then forward through the head to an opening called the salivarium behind the hypopharynx; which movements of the mouthparts help mix saliva with food in the buccal cavity. Saliva mixes with food, which travels through salivary tubes into the ...