Definition: The salivary glands are responsible for producing and secreting saliva. There are three major types of salivary glands:
- Parotid glands: pair of glands located on each side of the face in front of the ear
- Submandibular glands: pair of glands under the jaw
- Sublingual glands: pair of glands located under the tongue
Other minor salivary glands can be found in the mouth, cheeks, throat, and lips.
Like other parts of the body, the salivary glands are vulnerable to cancer development. Salivary gland cancer is rare and most commonly affects the parotid gland.
