Blocked Salivary Gland / Location Of Salivary Gland

Location Of Salivary Gland

Glands are found in and around the mouth and throat. We call the major salivary glands parotid, sub-mandibular, and sub-lingual glands.

They're all drooling into your mouth, the parotid through tubes that drain saliva, called salivary ducts, near your upper teeth, sub-mandibular under your tongue, and sub-lingual through many channels at the base of your mouth.

Additionally gland, there are many tiny glands called minor salivary glands located in your lips, inner cheek area (buccal mucosa), and extensively in other layers of the mouth and throat. Salivary glands produce saliva, which is used to moisten your mouth, initiate digestion, and helps protect your teeth from decay. As an act of good health, it is important to drink plenty of fluids every day. Dehydration is a risk factor for salivary gland diseases.

What Causes Problems salivary glands?

Salivary gland problems that cause clinical symptoms include:

Obstruction: Obstruction to the flow of saliva most commonly occurs in parotid and sub-mandibular glands, usually because stones have formed. Symptoms usually occur when eating. Production of saliva began to flow, but can not exit the ductal system, leading to swelling of the glands involved and significant pain, sometimes with an infection. Unless stones totally obstruct saliva flow, large glands will swell during eating and then gradually subside after eating, only to increase again at the next meal. Infection can develop in a pool of saliva is blocked, causing a more severe pain and swelling of the glands. If left untreated for a long time, can become swollen glands. It is possible for major salivary gland duct system that connects the gland to the mouth for not normal. These channels can develop small constrictions, which decrease salivary flow, leading to infection and obstructive symptoms.

Infection: The most common salivary gland infection in children mumps, which involves the parotid gland. While this is most common in children who have not been immunized, it can occur in adults. However, if an adult has swelling in the parotid gland only on one side, it is more likely caused by obstruction or a tumor.

Infections also occur because of ductal obstruction or sluggish flow of saliva because the mouth has abundant bacteria. You may have a secondary infection of the salivary gland lymph nodes nearby. This is the lymph nodes in the neck above the structure that often become tender during a general sore throat. In fact, many of the lymph nodes are actually located on, within, and deep within the substance of the parotid gland or near the sub-mandibular gland. When enlarged lymph nodes through infection, you may have swollen, red area of ​​pain in the parotid or sub-mandibular glands. Lymph nodes also enlarge due to tumors and inflammation.

Tumors: Primary benign and malignant salivary gland tumors usually appear as painless enlargement of this gland. Tumors rarely involve more than one gland and are detected as growth in the region, parotid sub mandibular, on the ceiling, the floor of the mouth, cheeks, or lips. An palaeontologist-head and neck surgeon should check such enlargement. Malignant tumors of major salivary glands can grow quickly, may be painful, and can cause loss of movement of part or all of the affected side of the face. These symptoms should be immediately investigated. Other Disorders: Salivary gland enlargement also occurs in autoimmune diseases such as HIV and Sjögren's syndrome where the immune system attacks the salivary glands causing significant inflammation. Dry mouth or dry eyes are common. This can occur with other systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Diabetes may cause enlargement of the salivary glands, especially the parotid gland. Alcoholics may have salivary gland swelling, usually on both sides.

How Does Your Doctor Make a Diagnosis?

Diagnosis of salivary gland disease depends on the history of taking your heart, physical examination, and laboratory tests. If your doctor suspects an obstruction of the major salivary glands, it may be necessary to anesthetize the opening of salivary duct in the mouth, and probe and dilate the tract to help an obstructive stone pass. Before this procedure, dental x-rays can show where the rocks are limestone. If a mass is found in the salivary glands, it is helpful to get a CT scan or (magnetic resonance imaging) MRI. Occasionally, fine needle aspiration biopsy in the doctor's office is very helpful. Rarely, dye will be injected through the parotid duct before an x-ray of the gland is taken (kilogram a). A lip biopsy of minor salivary glands may be needed to identify certain autoimmune diseases.

How Disease Treated salivary glands?

Treatment of salivary diseases falls into two categories: medical and surgical. Selection of treatment depends on the nature of the problem. If it is due to systemic diseases (diseases that involve the whole body, not one isolated area), then the underlying problem must be treated. This may require consultation with other specialists. If the disease process associated with salivary gland obstruction and subsequent infection, your doctor will recommend increased fluid intake and may prescribe antibiotics. Sometimes the instrument will be used to open blocked channels. If the mass has been developed in a salivary gland, removal of the mass may be recommended. Most of the mass in the parotid gland are benign (not cancer). When surgery is necessary, great care must be taken to avoid damage to the facial nerve within this gland that moves the muscles of the face including the mouth and eyes. When a malignant mass in the Parotid gland, it was possible to surgically remove them and preserve most of the facial nerve. Radiation treatment is often recommended after surgery. It is usually given four to six weeks after a surgical procedure to allow adequate healing before irradiation. General principles The same applies to the masses in the sub-mandibular or minor salivary glands in the mouth and upper throat. Benign diseases are best treated with conservative measures or surgery, whereas malignant diseases may require surgery and postoperative irradiation. If the lump around the salivary gland is a lymph node that has become enlarged due to cancer from another site, then obviously a different treatment plan will be required. A surgeon palaeontologist-head and neck can effectively direct treatment. Elimination of the salivary glands do not produce dry mouth, called xerostomia. However, radiation therapy to the mouth can cause unpleasant symptoms associated with reduced salivary flow. Doctors can prescribe medications or other conservative treatments that can reduce dryness in this regard. Salivary gland disease is due to various causes. The disease is treated both medically and surgically. Treatment is easily managed by a head and neck surgeon, otolaryngologist with experience in this field.