What Are The Lower Jaw Salivary Glands For?

The lower jaw salivary glands can also be called the  glandula submandibularis,  and the name is due to their anatomical location in the skull, below the oral cavity.

They are thus part of the primary salivary glands, which consist of the parotid gland, the lower jaw salivary gland and the hypothalamic salivary gland. There is a salivary gland in each cheek, close to the ears, while the hypothalamic gland, as the name suggests, is below the tongue.

The lower jaw salivary glands do not weigh much. They weigh only less than 15 grams each. It is also one of the first to appear in a fetus. The formation of saliva is actually their primary function.

The anatomy of the lower jaw salivary glands

The lower jaw salivary glands consist of connective tissue and glandular tissue. There are two types of glands: serous and mucous. Likewise, the connective tissues contain fibers that support the structure.

A duct starts from the gland itself and has the function of pouring saliva into the oral cavity. This channel is about 5 cm long.

The mouth of this canal is visible and palpable through the oral cavity. You can find it on one of the sides of the vocal cord. Sometimes, to find out if the duct is blocked or not, the dentist stimulates the glands and checks to see if saliva can come out or not.

The vocal nerves and some branches of the nerves in the face reach the glands in order to produce saliva. This is an area with many arteries and veins, just like the whole mouth is.

The function of saliva

If we ask what the lower jaw salivary glands are for, then the production of saliva is the obvious answer. They are an important part of the salivary system.

Together with the parotid gland and the sub-tongue salivary gland, as well as the smaller salivary glands, these organs are responsible for delivering saliva to the mouth. If we understand the function of saliva in the body, we can understand why we have the lower jaw salivary glands.

Saliva is a colorless liquid whose primary function is to lubricate the mouth. Over the course of an entire day,  a person can produce up to one and a half gallons of this substance. Its functions are to:

• Facilitates the swallowing movement. When a person chews their food, it becomes soaked with saliva before beginning its journey through the digestive tract. This saliva lubricates the food to promote its passage and facilitate its digestion.
• Heals the mucous membranes. Saliva is a powerful antiseptic and protects and contains substances that prevent infections and stimulate healing when there is a sore in the mouth.

• Regulates the acid in the mouth. The food we eat can be alkaline or sour. When the acid value of our food is extreme, they can damage the enamel on the teeth. To counteract this, saliva neutralizes the pH of certain substances.
• Decomposes starch. In saliva, there is an enzyme called alpha-amylase that breaks down large carbohydrates to make them smaller and easier to enter the bloodstream. The hydrochloric acid renders alpha-amylase inactive when it reaches the stomach.

Diseases of the lower jaw salivary glands

Like every other organ in the body, the lower jaw glands can suffer from diseases and ailments. It may be unknown to many, but dentists are well aware of their existence and the problems associated with them.

Quite often, stones form and they block the canal. Their technical name is salivary gland stones and they can make the gland inflamed if they are too large and prevent the secretion of saliva.

Salivary gland stones are rare in children but can occur sporadically. There is thus a higher incidence in adults under 50.

There may also be an infection of the lower jaw salivary glands. Both viruses and bacteria have the ability to invade salivary glands, make them inflamed and block the ducts.

The lower jaw salivary glands – conclusion

The lower jaw salivary glands are organs that are part of the primary salivary glands, along with the parotid gland and the sub-tongue salivary gland. They thus have an essential function in producing the saliva that we use daily.

Saliva is essential for the digestion of food, to protect the mucous membranes of the mouth and to take care of our teeth. These processes change when there is a lack or absence of saliva.

Lastly, we must not forget that the lower jaw glands can become inflamed and blocked by stones. Talk to a dentist if you have symptoms in this area of ​​your mouth.