Fig.1 shows that underneath mucous membrane (red line) is a salivary gland.  The latter consists of several mucus-producing sacs (S: purple circles, like grapes) and ducts (black tubes).  After formation, mucus is emptied (arrow) into the 1st segment of salivary duct (1).  Several (two in the diagram) of the 1st segments of ducts join and empty mucus into the 2nd segments of duct.  Then several of 2nd segments of ducts join and empty mucus into the 3rd segment of duct.  Finally mucus is dumped into the oral cavity (above the red line).  Return to main article

Xin Wei, DDS, PhD, MS 1st edition 04/10/2012, last revision 04/10/2012