What it means
There are three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid glands in front of the ears, the submandibular glands under the jaw, and the sublingual glands under the tongue, plus many tiny ones in the lining of the mouth. Mumps is a viral infection that swells the parotid glands.
At a glance
| Spanish | glándula salival |
|---|---|
| Also written | salivary glands |
Related terms
endocrine gland
A gland that releases hormones straight into the blood instead of through a tube or duct.
salivary
Relating to saliva, the watery fluid in the mouth, or to the glands that make it.
dry mouth
A feeling that the mouth is too dry because there is not enough saliva.