Page 13 - New epidemiological and PSMA-expression based paradigms in salivary gland tumors

Anatomy and function
Humans are known to have three pairs of major salivary glands and about a thousand minor glands spread out in the airways and digestive tract mucosa and submucosa. These glands produce saliva which is important for several biological and mechanical functions. Saliva helps in digestion (it contains e.g. the enzyme amylase), moistening and lubrication of food, prevention of dental decay and wear, killing of germs such as bacteria, yeasts and viruses, protection against chemical agents and dehydration. It also plays a role in hemostasis.
The major salivary glands are located in front of and below the ears (parotid glands), under the lower jaw (submandibular glands) and under the tongue (sublingual glands) (Figure 1). The parotid and the submandibular glands have relatively long ducts and the sublingual glands have shorter ducts that are connected with the submandibular ducts. About 700-1000 of minor glands are known to be spread out all over the mucosa and submucosa of the oral cavity, the nose and the throat (nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx).
Figure 1: The position of the major salivary glands: the parotid, the sublingual and the submandibular gland (Illustration by R. Slagter, 2021).
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General introduction and outline of this thesis
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