The salivary gland: anatomy for surgeons and researchers

Major salivary glands, parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands, secrete serous and mucous saliva via the proper excretory ducts connecting between oral cavity and glandular bodies. Discovery of the salivary ducts in 17th century established the concept of exocrine secretion as well as salivary glands. In more recent investigations have revealed the endocrine functions of salivary glands by a variety of cell growth factors produced by granular ducts. In the present review describes the macroscopic findings of human major salivary glands and the microscopic differences of human and rodent salivary glands.