Most people never think about their salivary glands. Many don’t even know what they are or how important they are to the body. Today we know their purpose, but in older times these glands were referred to as simply ‘wax colonels.’
The salivary glands:
* The parotid glands are located in front of and below each ear. The disease known as mumps especially affects these glands.
* The submaxillary glands are located about an inch in front of and below the angle of the lower jaw.
* The sublingual glands are under the tongue. These glands secrete saliva, which reaches the mouth through tubes called ducts.
Salivary glands function to secrete saliva, to keep the mouth moist, help to soften food and assist in digestion. Saliva is also secreted by the buccal glands, in the cheeks near the front of the mouth.
Disorders:
The salivary glands are affected more often than the other glands in inflammatory infections. Particularly when mumps, a virus infection is present. In the days before antibiotics, infected parotid glands containing pus were seen sometimes as a complication of major surgery. This condition known as parotitis is now a rare event.
Occasionally a stone can block the submaxillary duct leading into the mouth. Symptoms would include swelling, pain and tenderness aggravated by chewing. Sometimes the doctor will be able to feel the stone and most will show up in an x-ray. If a stone is present it will usually have to be removed surgically under local anesthesia. Even after removal, some stones have a tendency to occur again.
Tumors:
Tumors of the salivary glands are common; particularly a type called “mixed tumors.” These tumors involve the parotid glands. The doctor will be able to tell if a tumor is present by palpitation of the neck.
Even though tumors of the parotid gland are usually benign, about one in five may reappear. The tumors grow gradually and are encircled by a capsule. Many of them are movable beneath the skin and should only be done so by the doctor.
On the other hand, malignant tumors of the salivary glands grow quickly and more or less cling to the skin and surrounding tissues. If a person does have to have one of his salivary glands surgically removed, it should not interfere with digestion or even the amount of saliva production. Fortunately, this type of malignancy is rare.
Tags: antibiotics, inflammatory infections, parotitis, salivary glands