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Saliva stagnates and forms a mucus plug behind the stricture during sleep when the salivary output of the parotid is reduced. Then, when salivary secretion is stimulated, the mucus plug becomes stuck in the stricture. [1] The backlog of saliva behind the blockage causes the swelling, and the increased pressure inside the gland causes the pain.
Less commonly the parotid gland or rarely the sublingual gland or a minor salivary gland may develop salivary stones. The usual symptoms are pain and swelling of the affected salivary gland, both of which get worse when salivary flow is stimulated, e.g. with the sight, thought, smell or taste of food, or with hunger or chewing.
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]
A salivary diverticulum (plural diverticuli) is a small pouch or out-pocketing of the duct system of a major salivary gland. [16] Such diverticuli typically cause pooling of saliva and recurrent sialadenitis , [ 17 ] especially parotitis . [ 18 ]
The blockage may be from a salivary stone, a mucous plug, or, more rarely, by a tumor, usually benign. Salivary stones (also called sialolithiasis, or salivary duct calculus) are mainly made of calcium, but do not indicate any kind of calcium disorder. [7] Other causes can be duct stricture (narrowing of the duct), infection or injury.
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]
A minor salivary gland biopsy, usually taken from the lip, [26] may be carried out if there is a suspicion of organic disease of the salivary glands. [1] Blood tests and urinalysis may be involved to exclude a number of possible causes. [1] To investigate xerophthalmia, the Schirmer test of lacrimal flow may be indicated. [1]
Sialodochitis (also termed ductal sialadenitis), [1] is inflammation of the duct system of a salivary gland. [2] This is compared to sialadenitis, which is inflammation of the gland parenchyma. [3] Sialodochitis may be associated with salivary duct strictures and salivary stones. [4] It is common in both the parotid glands and submandibular ...