MLB Weekly Digest September 3rd Edition - NGSC Sports



lacrimal gland infection :: Article Creator

What Are The Salivary Glands And What Do They Do?

Salivary glands produce saliva and empty it into a person's mouth. Saliva helps make food moist, making it easier for people to chew, swallow, and digest. Saliva also helps keep the mouth clean.

A person has three main pairs of large salivary glands and hundreds of smaller salivary glands.

This article discusses the different types of salivary glands and what they do. It also lists a number of conditions that affect the salivary glands and discusses when someone should consider contacting a doctor.

People typically have three pairs of major salivary glands and hundreds of minor salivary glands. The major salivary glands are the largest of the salivary glands and produce most of the saliva in the mouth.

Below are the three types of major salivary glands:

  • Parotid glands: These are the largest of the salivary glands. They are just in front of and below the ears. A person has one parotid gland on each side of their face.
  • Submandibular glands: These are the second-largest salivary glands. They are below a person's jaw.
  • Sublingual glands: This gland is below the tongue. Instead of having one main duct, these glands contain a series of short ducts. They project saliva directly onto the floor of a person's mouth.
  • The major salivary glands produce around 92–95% of a person's saliva. The minor salivary glands produce the remainder of a person's saliva.

    A person has about 600–1,000 minor salivary glands. They are in almost every part of the mouth, but most commonly in the:

  • lips
  • lining of the cheeks
  • tongue
  • palate
  • The salivary glands produce saliva and secrete it into the mouth.

    Saliva plays a role in helping a person chew and swallow food by making it moist. It also lubricates the surfaces within the mouth, which can help facilitate speech.

    Saliva also contains enzymes that help a person digest certain substances in their food.

    For example, saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which helps break down starches into sugars. This makes it easier for the body to absorb the starches.

    Saliva also contains the enzyme lipase. This enzyme helps break down triglycerides, which are a type of dietary fat, into glycerol and free fatty acids. This makes it easier for the body to absorb these fats.

    Additionally, saliva plays a role in helping protect against infection. This is because it contains compounds with antimicrobial properties, such as:

  • lysozymes, which are a type of enzyme
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • lactoferrin, which is a type of protein
  • These compounds kill germs and help keep the mouth clean. Disruptions in saliva secretion can increase a person's risk of developing certain conditions, such as:

    Below are five examples of conditions that can affect the salivary glands.

    Salivary gland stones

    Salivary gland stones are small stones that form in a person's salivary glands. These stones can block the flow of saliva out of the glands.

    According to the United Kingdom's National Health Service, they are not typically serious, and a person may be able to remove them on their own by:

  • drinking plenty of water
  • gently massaging around the salivary gland stone
  • sucking on a lemon or lemon drops
  • Most salivary gland stones form below the tongue. In some cases, a person may be able to see them.

    Symptoms of salivary gland stones include:

  • swelling in the mouth, face, or under the jaw
  • a dull pain in the mouth that comes and goes
  • an infection around the stone
  • If a person experiences intense pain when eating, this may mean that the stone is completely blocking a salivary gland.

    Salivary gland infections

    If an obstruction blocks a duct in a salivary gland, it can cause saliva to pool in the duct. This can cause a salivary gland infection to develop.

    Symptoms of a salivary gland infection include:

    If a person has an infection of the lymph nodes due to a cold or sore throat, it can cause them to develop a secondary infection of the salivary glands. This may happen as the saliva becomes thick and stuck behind the gland.

    Salivary gland cancer

    Salivary gland cancer is a rare disease. It occurs when cancer cells form in the salivary glands.

    If a person has salivary gland cancer, they may not experience any symptoms. A healthcare professional may discover this type of cancer during a regular dental exam or a physical exam.

    However, some possible symptoms of salivary gland cancer include:

    Benign (noncancerous) masses can also form in the salivary glands.

    A person should speak with a doctor if they discover any lumps in their mouth, face, head, or neck.

    Mumps

    Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes a person to develop puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw due to swelling in the salivary glands.

    Other symptoms of mumps include:

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people receive the MMR vaccine to help reduce the risk of experiencing mumps.

    Sjögren's syndrome

    Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder that attacks certain glands. This includes the lacrimal glands, which make tears, and the salivary glands. The condition predominantly affects females.

    Common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome include:

    It can also damage the:

    The following symptoms may indicate a problem with a person's salivary glands:

  • dry mouth
  • bad taste in the mouth
  • difficulty opening the mouth
  • swelling in the face or neck
  • swelling under the tongue
  • numbness or weakness of the face
  • pain in the face of mouth
  • a lump in the:
  • fluid that drains from the ear
  • If a person experiences any of these symptoms, they should consider speaking with a doctor who can help identify any underlying causes.

    The salivary glands produce saliva and secrete it into the mouth. Saliva helps a person chew and swallow their food. It also lubricates surfaces in the mouth to help facilitate speech.

    Saliva contains enzymes that help a person digest certain substances, such as starches and fats, in their food. It can also help protect the body against infection.

    There are three pairs of major salivary glands and hundreds of minor salivary glands. The main salivary glands are the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands.

    Conditions that affect the salivary glands include salivary gland stones, infections, cancer, mumps, and Sjögren's syndrome. People should contact a healthcare professional if they think they are experiencing any problems with their salivary glands.


    Medications And Their Potential To Cause Increase In 'Lacrimal Disorder'

    ' as a side effect." It's important to note that mild side effects are quite common with medications.

    Please be aware that the drugs listed here are individual medications and may be part of a broader combination therapy. This information is meant to be a helpful resource but should not replace professional medical advice. If you're concerned about '

    ', it's best to consult a healthcare professional.

    ', other symptoms or signs might better match your side effect. We have listed these below for your convenience. If you find a symptom that more closely resembles your experience, you can use it to identify potential medications that might be the cause.

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    Fig.2 Induction Of Lacrimal Gland Progenitor Cells And 3D Lacrimal Gland Organoids (IMAGE)

    Osaka University

    Caption

    (A) Lacrimal gland-like cell clusters induced in zone-3 (lacrimal gland/corneal primordial region) of human iPS cell-derived eye-like organoids were isolated and cultivated in Matrigel, resulting in the formation of 3D lacrimal gland-like organoids with budding and branching. (B) Lacrimal gland organoids were generated by the 3D culture of lacrimal gland progenitor cells isolated by cell sorting. (C) 3D lacrimal gland organoids expressed lacrimal gland markers (PAX6, AQP5, SOX9).

    Credit

    Hayashi R. Et al. Generation of 3D lacrimal gland organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Nature 2022

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