Core Curriculum Syllabus: Salivary Glands

A. Parotid Gland

  • Located on side of face, anterior to mastoid tip and external auditory canal, inferior to zygomatic arch, and superior to the lower border of the angle of the mandible. Anteriorly, it overlaps the masseter muscle.
  • Stenson's duct enters oral cavity through buccal mucosa opposite upper second molar.
  • Parasympathetic secretory afferents to the parotid leave the inferior salivary nucleus with the glossopharyngeal nerve and travel via Jacobson's plexus in the middle ear to synapse in the otic ganglion. Post-synaptic fibers are distributed to the parotid by the auriculotemporal nerve.
  • Facial nerve passes through this gland.

B. Submandibular Gland

  • Beneath floor of the mouth, inferior to mylohyoid muscles and superior to digastric muscle.
  • Marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve travels in the fascia on the lateral surface of this gland.
  • Parasympathetic secretory afferents to the submandibular gland arise from the superior salivatory nucleus, and leave the brainstem in the facial nerve. They exit the facial nerve at the geniculate ganglion and travel via the chorda tympani to the lingual nerve. Fibers synapse in the submandibular ganglion, and post-synaptic fibers then enter the gland.
  • The lingual and hypoglossal nerves lie deep to this gland.
  • Wharton's duct enters the floor of the mouth near the lingual frenula.

C. Sublingual Glands - located below the mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth, adjacent to mandible and mylohyoid muscle. Ten to twelve small caliber ducts drain the gland, some emptying into the submandibular duct, and others draining directly into the floor of the mouth.

D. Minor Salivary Glands - small collections of salivary gland tissues are scattered throughout the oral mucosa, and can also be seen in the pharynx, supraglottis, nose and sinuses.

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Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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Last modified: Jan. 23, 2006