Salivary Glands MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

• There are three pairs of major salivary glands, which secrete the majority of saliva into ducts that open into the mouth:

Parotid Gland:

• It is the largest salivary gland.
• It lies on the sides of the face, just in front of the ear.
• It secretes saliva into the mouth through the parotid duct or Stenson’s duct, which is located near the second upper molar tooth.
• Stenson’s duct is 5 cm long.
• It is flattened yellowish salivary gland.
• It is predominantly a serous gland, secreting watery fluid with the enzyme ptyalin.
• Inflammation of the parotid glands is called mumps.
• It secretes 25% saliva.

Sublingual Gland:

• It is present under the front part of the tongue.
• The sublingual duct is known as duct of Rivinus.
• It is the smallest salivary gland.
• It is narrow, flat and almond-shaped.
• It is predominantly mucus-secreting.
• It secretes a very small amount of ptyalin.
• It secretes 5% saliva.

Submandibular Gland:

• It lies at the angle of the lower jaw.
• It secretes saliva into the mouth through the submandibular duct or Wharton’s duct.
• It is shaped like a walnut.
• It is predominantly serous gland.
• It secretes 70% saliva
  

• The secretion of salivary glands is called saliva.
• The secretion of saliva is called salivation.
• Saliva is essentially (95.5 per cent) water. 
• The remaining 4.5 per cent is a complex mixture of ions, glycoproteins, enzymes, growth factors, and waste products.
• The most important ingredient in saliva from the perspective of digestion is the enzyme salivary amylase, also called ptyalin, which initiates the breakdown of carbohydrates.
• Bicarbonate and phosphate ions function as chemical buffers, maintaining saliva at a pH between 6.85 and 7.4.
• Salivary mucus helps lubricate food, facilitating movement in the mouth, bolus formation, and swallowing. 
• Saliva contains immunoglobulin A, which prevents microbes from penetrating the epithelium, and lysozyme, which makes saliva antimicrobial.

Regulation of Salivation:

• The sympathetic nervous system reduces salivation
• The parasympathetic nervous system increases salivation
• Chloride ions are also responsible for salivation

TIP

• Paralysis of the facial nerve or the Bell’s palsy causes permanent hyposalivation.
• Xerostomia is the condition of dry mouth resulting due to hyposalivation.
• Sialolithiasis is the obstruction in the salivary ducts.
• Drooling is the uncontrolled flow of saliva outside the mouth.
• Sjogren’s disease is an autoimmune disorder of the destruction of Salivary Glands

NOTE : Parotid is the largest Salivary gland but maximum amount of Saliva is by  the Submandibular gland.