Salivary Glands

• Produce saliva, which moistens food and contains the enzyme amylase
• Enzyme amylase: Chemically breaks down starch (carbohydrate)
• Three pairs of major glands:

  -Parotid glands

  -Submandibular glands

  -Sublingual glands
• Sublingual gland: Located below the tongue; smallest of the three pairs of major glands
• Parotid gland: Located on either side of the mouth behind the ears; largest of the three pairs of major glands
• Submandibular gland: Located under the mandible bone at the floor of the oral cavity; second largest of the three pairs of major glands
• salivary gland


  produces saliva

  3 pairs
• saliva


  produced by the salivary glands

  moistens food

  contains the enzyme amylase to chemically break down starch