Overview
The salivary glands are exocrine organs that produce and secrete saliva into the oral cavity, lubricating the mouth, initiating carbohydrate digestion through enzymes such as amylase, buffering oral pH, and contributing antimicrobial and immunological factors that protect mucosal and dental surfaces. They are classified into three paired major glands, the parotid, submandibular and sublingual, and numerous minor glands distributed throughout the oral and upper aerodigestive mucosa. Histologically they contain serous and mucous acini draining through a ductal system, and the proportions of cell types determine the character of each gland's secretion. Salivary tissue is subject to a range of pathology, including obstructive and inflammatory disease, autoimmune and infectious sialadenitis, and a spectrum of benign and malignant neoplasms. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary gland tumour and may arise not only in the major glands but also in ectopic or minor-gland sites such as the nasal septum, reflecting the wide anatomical distribution of secretory tissue. Diagnosis combines clinical examination with imaging, increasingly including ultrasonography and cross-sectional techniques, and histopathological evaluation. Because salivary glands lie within the head and neck, their disorders intersect with otolaryngology, oral and maxillofacial practice and the regional neuroanatomy of the facial and mental nerves. Their study integrates secretory physiology, anatomy and the diagnosis of inflammatory and neoplastic disease.
Research published in this journal
7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
Identity Crisis - Common Tumors in Exceptional Locations, A Case Series
Communicating Branch of the Mental Nerve and Facial Nerve
Lingual Cyct
Evaluation of Combined Ultrasonography and Cone Beam Computed Tomography for Clinical Imaging: A Negative Results Study
Hemangioma of the Buccal Mucosa of the Cheek Presenting as a Dermoid Cyst: A Case Report
Allergic Angioedema and Urticaria After Ingestion of Organic Tea
How this research is being cited
The 7 articles above have been cited 11 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
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2024 · International Journal of Surgery Case Reports
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2024 · International Journal of Surgery Case Reports
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2023 · Oxford Medical Case Reports
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2023 · Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
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2023 · Oxford Medical Case Reports
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2023 · Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
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A. Kubota et al. · 2021 · Ear, nose, & throat journal
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S. Bose et al. · 2020 · National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Salivary Glands, linking to each citing work.