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1. SUBLINGUAL SALIVARY GLANDS
Dr. Ayesha Tahir
Senior Lecturer
MSc. Oral Biology, BDS

2. SUBLINGUAL SALIVARY GLANDS
• Smallest of the three
major salivary glands
• Mixed in secretion but
predominantly
mucous
• Composed of a major
sublingual gland along
with 8-30 mixed,
minor salivary glands

3. ANATOMY
• Located in the anterior part of the floor of the mouth
• It lies between the hyoglossus and mylohyoid muscles and lies
against the sublingual fossa of the mandible

4. DUCT AND SECRETIONS
• The secretions enter the oral cavity through a series of small ducts, the
ducts of Rivinus
• These ducts open into the sublingual fold in the floor of the mouth or;
• Through a larger duct- Bartholin’s Duct which opens at the sublingual
caruncle along with the submandibular duct

6. BLOOD AND NERVE SUPPLY
• Blood Supply: Sublingual and Sub-mental
Arteries
• Parasympathetic Innervation: Chorda Tympani
branch of the Facial Nerve (CN VII)
• Pre-Ganglionic Fibres: via Lingual nerve to the
submandibular ganglion
• Post-Ganglionic Fibres: From SM Ganglion to the
suBmandibular and sublingual glands

8. HISTOLOGY
• Predominantly mucous in nature
• Mucous tubules and serous demilunes resemble those in SM gland
• Serous end pieces are rare if present at all
• Ductal system is much less developed
• Intercalated ducts are short, difficult to recognize and may be
absent
• Striated ducts are usually absent
• Collecting ducts are rich in mitochondria, lack basal striations
• Sublingual saliva is rich in Sodium

9. MINOR SALIVARY GLANDS
• Estimated to be in between 600-1000 in number
• Small, discrete aggregates of secretory tissue
present in the submucosa, almost throughout the
oral cavity
• Mostly mucous except lingual serous glands
(Ebner’s glands) in tongue – secretion of digestive
enzymes and proteins
• Intercalated ducts are poorly developed

10. • Minor salivary gland secretion is typically rich in
mucins, antibacterial proteins and immunoglobulins
• Protection and moistening the oral cavity especially at
night

11. AGE CHANGES

12. • Generalized loss of salivary glands parenchyma
• Lost salivary cells are often replaced by adipose
tissue
• Increase in fibrous and vascular elements
• Changes in ductal system:
– Increase in non-striated intralobular ducts
– Dilatation of extra lobular ducts
– Degenerative and metaplastic changes
• Decreased production of saliva

13. DISEASES

14. • Local and systematic
• Viruses: Infect and replicate within salivary glands e.g.
cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Bar virus
• Viral and bacterial infections may cause inflammation of the glands
• Blockages of ducts
• Ductal obstructions by formation of sialoliths
• Severing of a minor SG by trauma
• Benign and malignant tumours
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune disease e.g. Sjogren’s Syndrome

15. XEROSTOMIA (DRY MOUTH)
• Loss of salivary function or a reduction in the
volume of secreted saliva- dry mouth
• May occur as a side effect of medications (e.g.
antihypertensives, antidepressants) - central or
peripheral inhibition of salivary secretion
• Destruction of salivary gland- chemotherapy/
radiation therapy
• Autoimmune disease- Sjogren’s Disease

16. XEROSTOMIA

17. EFFECTS OF XEROSTOMIA
• Dry mouth- loss of protective effects
• Susceptibility to infections, difficulty and pain in
speech, eating, swallowing
• High susceptibility to caries
• TREATMENT MODALITIES:
– Frequent sipping of water/ artificial saliva
– Pharmacological therapy e.g. pilocarpine
– Genetic modification

18. THANK YOU