Submandibular Excision

Excerpt

Salivary glands are exocrine glands that produce saliva, which has several functions. Saliva provides lubrication to the upper aerodigestive tract, which is crucial for proper swallow function, speech production, as well as for proper taste sensation. Saliva also aids in the preliminary stages of food digestion and serves as a buffer to prevent dental caries and facilitate dental remineralization. The submandibular gland is a salivary gland that produces a mixed serous and mucinous salivary output.

There are traditionally three paired sets of major salivary glands: the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands. Of the major salivary glands, the parotid glands are the largest. However, the submandibular glands account for the majority of baseline salivary production. In addition to the major salivary glands, minor salivary glands exist throughout the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa. Of note, collections of paired macroscopic salivary tissue within the nasopharynx termed the tubarial salivary glands have recently been described.