Loading AI tools
Medical condition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salivary gland diseases (SGDs) are multiple and varied in cause.[1] There are three paired major salivary glands in humans: the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands. There are also about 800–1,000 minor salivary glands in the mucosa of the mouth. The parotid glands are in front of the ears, one on side, and secrete mostly serous saliva, via the parotid ducts (Stenson ducts), into the mouth, usually opening roughly opposite the second upper molars. The submandibular gland is medial to the angle of the mandible, and it drains its mixture of serous and mucous saliva via the submandibular duct (Wharton duct) into the mouth, usually opening in a punctum in the floor of mouth. The sublingual gland is below the tongue, on the floor of the mouth; it drains its mostly mucous saliva into the mouth via about 8–20 ducts, which open along the plica sublingualis, a fold of tissue under the tongue.[2]
Salivary gland disease | |
---|---|
Blockage of the submandibular gland by a salivary stone with subsequent infection. Arrow marks pus coming out of the opening of the submandibular gland | |
Specialty | Gastroenterology, oral and maxillofacial surgery |
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] Salivary-gland dysfunction occurs when salivary rates are reduced; this can cause xerostomia (dry mouth).[4]
Some disorders affecting the salivary glands are listed below. Some are more common than others, and they are considered according to a surgical sieve; but this list is not exhaustive. Sialadenitis is inflammation of a salivary gland, usually caused by infections, although there are other, less common causes of inflammation, such as irradiation, allergic reactions, and trauma.[5]
Congenital disorders of the salivary glands are rare.[5] They include:
Salivary gland dysfunction affects the flow, amount, or quality of saliva produced. A reduced salivation is termed hyposalivation. Hyposalivation often results in a dry mouth condition called xerostomia, and this can cause tooth decay due to the loss of the protective properties of saliva. In addition, The results of a study have suggested that hyposalivation could lead to acute respiratory infection.[7] There are two potential reasons for increasing the incidence rate of this infection. First, reduced saliva secretion may impair the oral and airway mucosal surface as a physical barrier, which consequently enhances the adhesion and colonization of viruses. Second, this reduction may also impair the secretion of antimicrobial proteins and peptides.[7] In saliva, there are many antiviral proteins and peptides, some of which can inhibit replication of viruses, especially coronavirus; these salivary proteins may also protect against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).[8] Therefore, hyposalivation may be a risk factor for acute respiratory infection, including (COVID-19). However, further investigations are crucial to prove this hypothesis.[8]
Hypersalivation is the overproduction of saliva and has many causes.[9][10]
Infections involving the salivary glands can be viral or bacterial (or rarely fungal).
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] A diverticulum may also cause a sialolith to form.[19][20] The condition can be diagnosed by sialography.[17] Affected individuals may "milk" the salivary gland to encourage flow of saliva through the duct.[17]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.