Minor Salivary Glands Types, Location, and Function

Minor Salivary Glands:

There are over 600 minor salivary glands in the Oral Cavity. They are of 2 Types:

• Mucous Producing Minor Salivary Glands
• Serous Fluid Producing Minor Salivary Glands

Location Of Minor Salivary Glands:

Minor salivary glands are found in large numbers on the Cheeks on all side of the Oral cavity which cannot be pointed out, and there are Minor salivary glands located on the following location in small numbers:

1. Superior portion of tonsils (Weber’s glands)
2. Tonsillar pillars
3. Base of tongue (von Ebner’s glands)
4. Paranasal sinuses
5. Larynx, Trachea, and Bronchi.

Mucous Producing Minor Salivary Glands:

• These type of Minor Salivary glands are located within the Submucosa of the Oral Mucosa seen spread all around the Oral cavity.
• They are 1-2mm in diameter
• These are not encapsulated by connective tissue but are only surrounded by it
• These gland’s can be described as a number of acini connected in a tiny lobule
• A minor salivary gland may have a common excretory duct with another gland, or may have its own excretory duct

Serous Fluid Producing Minor Salivary Glands:

• There are also called as Von Ebner Glands.
• Von Ebner’s glands are glands found in circumvallate and foliate papillae of the tongue.
• Which secrete a serous fluid that begin lipid hydrolysis.
• They facilitate the perception of taste.
• These glands empty their serous secretion into the base of the moats located around the foliate and circumvallate papillae.
• This secretion presumably flushes material from the base of the papillae to enable the taste buds to respond rapidly to changing stimuli.

Function:

1. Von Ebner glands secrete lingual lipase, beginning the process of lipid hydrolysis in the mouth
2. Serous Secretion presumably flushes material from the base of the papillae to enable the taste buds to respond rapidly to changing stimuli.
3. Mucous Secretions are usually similar in function to the Whole Saliva.