One of the smaller, largely mucus-secreting, exocrine glands of the oral cavity, consisting of the labial, buccal, molar, lingual, and palatine glands[MP]. [ MP:0003791 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salivary_gland#Minor_Salivary_Glands ]
Term information
- EMAPA:35574
- NCIT:C33129
- MA:0002479
- null:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/umls/id/C0036099
- GAID:940
- UMLS:C0036099 (ncithesaurus:Minor_Salivary_Gland)
- null:http://www.snomedbrowser.com/Codes/Details/362177001
- galen:MinorSalivaryGland
- FMA:59789
- null:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salivary_gland#Minor_Salivary_Glands
- MESH:D012470
pheno_slim, organ_slim
There are over 600 minor salivary glands located throughout the oral cavity within the lamina propria of the oral mucosa. They are 1-2mm in diameter and unlike the other glands, they are not encapsulated by connective tissue only surrounded by it. The gland is usually a number of acini connected in a tiny lobule. A minor salivary gland may have a common excretory duct with another gland, or may have its own excretory duct. Their secretion is mainly mucous in nature (except for von Ebner's glands) and have many functions such as coating the oral cavity with saliva[WP].