Salivary Gland | Vibepedia

There are numerous minor salivary glands scattered throughout the oral mucosa. Salivary glands can be classified by their secretion type: serous, mucous, or seromucous. A fourth pair of major salivary glands, the tubarial glands, has been proposed. Acinar cells produce initial isotonic secretion rich in water, electrolytes, and proteins. Alpha-amylase is a protein found in primary saliva. Ductal epithelial cells modify saliva by reabsorbing sodium and chloride ions and secrete potassium and bicarbonate ions into saliva. Acetylcholine acts on muscarinic receptors to drive salivation. William Bowman made contributions to understanding the microscopic structure of glands. Dr. Vincent Stubbs led the team that identified the tubarial glands. The Netherlands Cancer Institute was involved in the identification of the tubarial glands. The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) foster research into salivary gland biology. Ivan Pavlov conducted experiments with conditioned salivation in dogs. Sjögren's syndrome is a condition that can cause xerostomia, the medical term for dry mouth. COVID-19 is an infectious disease for which saliva can be used for detection. Research published in *Radiotherapy and Oncology* in 2020 suggested the tubarial glands are a distinct fourth pair.