What Are The Glands in The Neck?
The neck has several different glands. These are the submandibular gland, sublingual gland, Parotid gland, Lymph nodes and others.
What is the Submandibular gland?
The submandibular gland is one of two major salivary glands along with the parotid gland. The submandibular lies underneath your jaw bone or mandible near to your chin. It runs down vertically from your earlobe towards the centre of your chest. When it reaches the centre, it joins with a tiny duct which is about 0.5cm long called Stensen’s duct which opens into the mouth at a small hole or opening on either side of your lower or bottom lip.
What is the function of the submandibular gland?
The main function of this gland is to produce around 70% of the saliva that you produce on an average, whereas parotid produces about 25%. It also helps in keeping your mouth moist. The saliva produced by the submandibular gland contains three times more enzymes than other salivary glands and acts as a digestive agent for carbohydrates.
This juice has bicarbonate ions which neutralize the acid made by bacteria in the mouth to prevent tooth decay. There are 200-300 taste buds present on the front two-thirds of your tongue and 100,000 microscopic taste receptors lining your inner cheeks (tongue map). It helps in speech production and deglutition by producing smooth, slippery saliva.
What is the structure of the submandibular gland?
The main parts of the gland are:
1)Root:
It refers to the part underneath your jaw bone or mandible near to your chin. The root is about 2cm long from the floor of the mouth. At its upper end, it joins with other salivary glands and ducts in a large group called Parapharyngeal space (Area behind and above your pharynx). This is why if you ever get nodes in this area, for example, they feel like little stones under your skin sometimes moving around when you move your tongue about or swallow. If we press on these nodes they generally appear soft and moveable.
2)Sheath:
It refers to the layer of fibres which surrounds the gland.
3)Bulb:
The bulb is situated near the top of the submandibular gland behind your jaw bone at its back. It gets attached to Stensen’s duct here, through which it empties saliva into your mouth.
The duct coming out from this opening is not visible but can be felt by pressing below your ear lobe towards the centre of the chest with the index finger or back of the tongue against the cheek. This should feel like a small hole/opening on either side of your lower lip about 1-1.5cm long…
4)Ilicis:
It refers to another name of the duct which is called Stensen’s Duct. The role of this duct is to carry saliva from the submandibular gland into the mouth through small holes or openings on either side of your lower lip (side view).
5)Apex:
Apex refers to the tip where the duct joins with the main gland.
6)Rootlets:
Rootlets are tiny branches coming out from the root of the gland, running downwards towards the back of the mouth. They divide again and again… until they reach the mucosa or lining inside the mouth at the level of the floor/bottom of the mouth. At this point, they form “solitary” glands called parotid saccule.
This adenoid tissue produces a few drops of alkaline secretion daily while the submandibular gland produces 30-40 ml of mucoid secretion daily. That is why if you ever get an infection in your mouth, it generally keeps coming back around this area.
swollen lymph nodes in neck one side:
the most likely cause is an infection in the lymph node(s) most commonly caused by viral infections mononucleosis or flu symptoms usually develop within 4-7 days after exposure swollen lymph nodes accompanied with fever, sore throat, rash, and rarely nausea & vomiting bacterial infection can also cause swollen lymph nodes symptoms are usually milder than that of viral infection symptoms often appear days to weeks after exposure for more serious bacterial infections like tuberculosis, the enlarged lymph node is only one of several symptoms blood tests for mononucleosis is usually done when lymph nodes are swollen in children
swollen lymph node:
enlarged or inflamed lymph gland or group of lymph glands, often occurring as part of the body’s immune response to an infection. The swelling occurs because fluid and white blood cells collect there. Enlarged lymph nodes may be felt as lumps under the skin.
Treatment varies depending on the cause, but enlarged glands typically disappear within two to three weeks without treatment. Swollen lymph nodes can occur almost anywhere in the body, but they are most common in the neck, armpit (axilla), groin, and inside lining of the chest cavity (mediastinum). Swollen tonsils due to infection are also considered lymph nodes.
Swollen lymph nodes may be tender, firm, or rubbery. Nodes usually are hard to touch when they are infected with bacteria, but they tend to feel softer if the infection is viral.
Lymph node swelling can occur in both adults and children. Causes of swollen lymph nodes include infections bacterial infections (most common), fungal infections, traumatic injury, autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, and cancer treatment side effects.
one swollen lymph node in the neck no other symptoms:
In some cases, lymph nodes appear to be swollen but have no other symptoms. In these cases, treatment isn’t usually needed as the swelling goes away on its own.
swollen lymph node one side of neck:
symptoms the first sign is the presence of a small lump in your neck that feels firm and painless there may also be a slight fever and enlarged tonsils different causes if the cause isn’t identified, croup or a non-serious viral infection can occur secondary bacterial infections require immediate medical attention for children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids), swollen lymph nodes are often associated with diseases such as toxoplasmosis.
cause most people who develop an infection will have systemic symptoms including fever, fatigue, and headache.
what do swollen lymph nodes feel like:-
swollen lymph nodes feel like small, fluid-filled lumps under your skin.
treatment the swelling goes away on its own and treatment isn’t usually needed as the cause is usually a viral infection. If the cause is bacterial, then antibiotics may be necessary to treat it.
swollen lymph node one side of neck:
symptoms if only one lymph node is swollen, you should see your doctor immediately if no other symptoms are present if another symptom appears such as a rash or pain in the area where the node is located, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible and tell them about any prior travel to areas where certain fungal infections exist because there might be a more serious condition present as histoplasmosis.
cause if the cause isn’t identified, croup or a non-serious viral infection can occur secondary bacterial infections require immediate medical attention for children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids), swollen lymph nodes are often associated with diseases such as toxoplasmosis.
symptoms most people who develop an infection will systemic symptoms including fever, fatigue, and headache.
posterior cervical lymph nodes:
the lymph nodes in the front of your neck are called anterior cervical lymph nodes.
Lymphoma, infections such as tuberculosis or fungal infections, and chronic inflammation such as psoriasis can cause swollen lymph nodes.
Swollen Lymph Nodes Treatment:
most people who develop an infection will have systemic symptoms including fever, fatigue, and headache. Treatment depends on the cause.