"Let's talk about salivary glands"

joan-na (65)Nigeriain Healthy Steem • 3 days ago

🤤 What are the salivary glands and what is their classification?

To the best of my understanding salivary glands are known as specialized glands in the oral cavity that produce and secret saliva. When it comes to digestion maintaining our health status tissues and oral hygiene, saliva plays an important role since it contains what is capable of breaking down carbohydrates and other substances that help protect us against infections.

Classification:

The classification of salivary glands is based on location and size some of these are;

Major Salivary Glands:
These are salivary glands that include the following; parotid glands which are located near the cheeks. Also, it is the type of gland that produces a serious watery secretion which is rich in enzymes. Others include: Sublingual glands located under the tongue on the floor mouth, and the submandibular glands which are found beneath the jaw, at the floor of the mouth.
Minor Salivary Glands:
These are called smaller glands that are scattered throughout the mucosa of the oral cavity. These include the following: Tongue, lips, cheeks, palate and floor of the mouth. Also, minor Salivary Glands are known as the glands that produce predominantly mucous secretions.

🤤 What is the function of the salivary glands?

The function of the salivary glands is mainly to maintain oral health and facilitate digestion. However, the overall functions are:

Digestion: Salivary has enzymatic breakdown* like **made that begins the digestion of carbohydrates, which is then broken down with the help of lipase.
Lubrication: Also moistening oral tissues helps to keep the oral cavity moist aiding speech and swallowing.
Oral hygiene: It contains enzymes and proteins that help to fight fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Also, it washes away food particles.
Taste protection: It helps to dissolve food substances, which makes it possible for taste receptors on the tongue to detect flavor.

🤤 What are the elements that make up saliva and what is the route from its production to the oral cavity?

The elements that make up saliva are as follows:

Water contributes 99 percent
Electrolytes like sodium, calcium, potassium, and others
Enzymes
Proteins
Antimicrobial components
Metabolic waste products
Hormones

The route of saliva production to the oral cavity

These include the following:

Production in Acini
Modification in ducts
Transport through excretory ducts
Secretion into the oral cavity

🤤 What pathologies can occur in the salivary glands?

The pathologies that can occur in the salivary glands are:

Sialadentis: which occurs due to obstruction or infection caused by bacteria like streptococcus.
Sialoithiasis (Salivary stones): It is the formation of calcified in tg salivary ducts submandibular gland is commonly affected.

Others are: