Salivary Glands

The parotid glands are the largest of the major salivary glands and are located deep to the skin in front of and below the ear. There is one on each side of the face. They are divided into a superficial and a deep lobe by the facial nerve that passes through them to supply the muscles of facial expression. The parotid gland gives bulk to the cheek over the angle of the jaw. It produces saliva that enters the mouth via a duct whose opening can be located by feeling for a small bump on the inner cheek just next to the upper molar teeth.

The submandibular glands are the second largest of the major salivary glands and are located deep to the skin under the jaw. There is one on each side. They divided into a superficial and deep lobe by the mylohyoid muscle which bridges the gap between the jaw and the hyoid bone in front of the trachea (windpipe) in the neck. Each submandibular gland produces saliva that enters the mouth via a duct whose opening can be located beneath the tongue. The submandibular gland is intimately related to the hypoglossal nerve that gives supply to the muscles of the tongue and the lingual nerve that supply sensation and taste to the tongue.