submandibular salivary gland
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A submandibular salivary gland is one of a pair of major salivary glands located beneath the lower jawbone (mandible). It is responsible for producing a significant portion of saliva, particularly during rest or sleep, and secretes this saliva into the floor of the mouth via a duct that opens under the tongue.
Examples
- The submandibular salivary gland can sometimes become blocked or inflamed.
- Saliva from the submandibular salivary gland helps to begin the digestion of food.
- The surgeon carefully removed the tumor from the patient's submandibular salivary gland.
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: The term is primarily used in anatomical, dental, and medical contexts (e.g., otolaryngology, oral surgery) to describe the gland's structure, function, or pathology.
- Comparative Anatomy: In discussions of glandular function, the submandibular salivary gland is often compared to the parotid and sublingual glands, as they collectively form the major salivary glands.
Variants and Related Words
- Submandibular gland: A common synonym; "salivary" is often implied in medical terminology.
- Submaxillary gland: An older, less common term for the same structure.
- Wharton's duct: The specific name for the duct that drains the submandibular salivary gland into the mouth.
Synonyms
- Submandibular gland
- Submaxillary gland (archaic)
Related Phrases
- Salivary gland calculus: A stone that can form within the duct of the submandibular salivary gland.
- Sialadenitis: Inflammation of a salivary gland, which can affect the submandibular gland.
Noun
- a salivary gland inside the lower jaw on either side that produces most of the nocturnal saliva; discharges saliva into the mouth under the tongue