Salivary glands produce saliva, which moistens the mouth to help a person chew and swallow food. Saliva also contains substances (enzymes) that begin the breakdown of food.
There are four pairs of salivary glands, four glands on each side:
The parotid glands are between the ear and the jaw.
The submandibular glands are under the jaw.
The sublingual glands are on the floor of the mouth under the tongue.
The buccal glands are in the mucous membrane lining the cheeks and mouth. These glands produce only a small amount of saliva.
Current as of:
March 22, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine