Back
Imprimir 

Salivary glands

Skip Navigation

Top of the page

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:

  • The parotid glands are located between the ear and the jaw.
  • The submandibular glands are located under the jaw.
  • The sublingual glands are located on the floor of the mouth under the tongue.
  • The buccal glands are located in the mucous membrane lining the cheeks and mouth. These glands produce only a small amount of saliva.

Current as of: October 19, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: October 19, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

La Enciclopedia de salud contiene información general de salud. No todos los tratamientos o servicios descritos son beneficios cubiertos para los miembros de Kaiser Permanente ni se ofrecen como servicios de Kaiser Permanente. Para obtener una lista de beneficios cubiertos, consulte su Evidencia de cobertura o Descripción resumida del plan. Para los tratamientos recomendados, consulte con su proveedor de atención médica.