Article
Article
Oral gland
Article By:
Arey, Leslie B. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.
Last reviewed:August 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.474100
Any of the glands located in the mouth that secrete fluids that moisten and lubricate the mouth and food, often initiating digestive activity or performing other specialized functions. Oral glands, commonly termed saliva glands (see illustration), are significant anatomical structures whose existence is vital to the well-being of many animals, especially mammals. Oral glands are responsible for discharging secretions (saliva) into the oral cavity. Oral glands are highly developed in mammals, although these glands also appear in various and often limited forms in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. See also: Digestive system; Gland; Mammalia; Mouth
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