|
HomeDictionary
Salivary Glands Disease DictionaryA-E | F-J | K-O | P-S | T-Zparamyxovirus: The virus that causes mumps. parotid gland flow test: A test that measures the amount of saliva secreted by the parotid glands. This test identifies patients who with low saliva flow, indicating the presence of Sjogren’s syndrome. parotid glands: Twin salivary glands below and in front of the ear. The parotid glands are the largest of the human salivary glands. pilocarpine: A medication used to treat dry mouth. ranula: A cyst caused by an obstructed salivary gland duct. Ranulas form under the tongue. saliva: A fluid secreted by salivary glands into the mouth. Saliva is composed of water, proteins, salts, antibodies, mucin and enzymes. Saliva's function is to lubricate food and begin the digestion of starches.
salivary glands: Three pairs of glands (the parotid, sublingual and submandibular) that produce saliva. salivary stones: Deposits of minerals that accumulate into a solid mass in a salivary gland, blocking the flow of saliva. sialadenitis: Inflammation of the salivary gland. sialothiasis: The medical term for salivary stones. Sjogren's syndrome: A chronic autoimmune disease, appearing most often in older women, that causes dryness of mucous membranes in the mouth and of the teat ducts. spit: Either another name for saliva or a verb meaning to remove saliva from the mouth. staphylococcus: A bacterium that can cause dry mouth if it infects a salivary gland. starches: A complex carbohydrate found in most vegetable foods and grains. streptococcus: A bacterium that can cause dry mouth if it infects a salivary gland. Streptococcus is treated with penicillin. If left untreated, it can cause rheumatic fever. sublingual: Of or relating to the sublingual glands. Also indicating anything under the tongue. sublingual glands: A pair of salivary glands located on each side of the mouth just beneath the tongue. submandibular glands: A pair of salivary glands on each side of the mouth, located at the lower edge of the mandible. The submandibular glands secrete saliva into the mouth through ducts under the tongue.
|
|
