The salivary glands produce saliva, which keeps the mouth and other parts of the digestive system moist. It also helps break down carbohydrates (with salivary amylase, formerly known as ptyalin) and lubricates the passage of food down from the oro-pharynx to the esophagus to the stomach.

There are three main pairs of salivary glands: the parotid, the submandibular and the sublingual glands. There are also many small glands in the tongue, cheeks, lips and palate, all of which consist entirely of mucous secreting cells (see Histology below) except for the serous glands of von Ebner, which reside within the moats surrounding the circumvallate papillae in the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, anterior to the terminal sulcus.

Histology

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Two types of epithelial cells in salivary glands produce either mucous or serous secretions. The parotid gland produces serous secretions. The submandibular and submaxillary glands contain a mixture of both types of cells, and produce a mixture of the two liquids.

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Oral health: Overview of salivary gland calculi - Helium http://t.co/Kk2qqXoM
health_watch (Health Watch) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:33:14 -0000
Oral health: Overview of salivary gland calculi - Helium http://t.co/Kk2qqXoM
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