Salivary Glands: These are the secretory glands or the Exocrine Glands which secrete a multi functional fluid known as Saliva.

Saliva which is a combination of many substances with varied functions is a slightly viscous fluid which is composed of many substances which are produced and secreted into the oral cavity by different salivary glands and mix in the oral cavity to form saliva in the mouth.

The salivary glands release their secretions into the oral cavity. These salivary glands are divided into 2 main types based on their position, size and the chemical nature of the secretory products:

1) Major Salivary Glands: 3 pairs of large glands located outside the oral cavity.

2) Minor Salivary Glands: Many numerous small glands in the mucosa and sub mucosa of the oral cavity.

Major Salivary Glands:
These are the largest of the salivary glands which are arranged in pairs, and supply their secretions into the oral cavity by the help of ducts which connect the galnds to the oral cavity.

1) Parotid Gland: It is present in front of the ear, It is connected to the oral cavity with the help of Stensons Duct which opens near the 2nd maxillary molar.

2) Submandibular Gland: It is present in the submandbular triangle. It is connected to the oral cavity by Wharton’s Duct and it opens by the side of the lingual frenum on the floor of the mouth. It is a mixed gland which secrets both serous and mucous secretions.

3) Sublingual Gland: As we can see by the name Sub-below, Lingual- tongue so it is present below the tongue, It is connected to the oral cavity by the Bartholins Duct, It is also a mixed gland.

Minor Glands:
1) Labial and Buccal Glands: The glands of the cheeks and lips.

2) Glossopalatine Glands: These are present in the Isthmus in the glossopalatine folds, these are purely mucous glands.

3) Palatine Glands: Present in the Lamina Propria of the posteriolateral region of the hard palate and in the sub-mucosa of the soft palate.

4) Lingual Glands: These are known as the glands of the tongue, they are of 2 types the anterior lingual glands and the posterior lingual glands.

Functions of Saliva:
1) It initiates the process of Digestion, we can also say that it starts the first stage of digestion.

2) Maintains the oral hygiene, by killing some of the pathological microbes.

3) Lubricates the food and helps in easy swallowing by making the food into a mass of semi digested food known as ‘Bolus’.

4) It maintains the oral cavity and helps in the easy movement of the tongue which help in proper speech.

5) It has anti microbial function as it contains the Immunoglobulins which kill the bacteria and act as the first line of defence .

Skull: It is defined as the Skeleton of the head.
It is also called as cranium
All the bones in the skull are joined immovably by joints known as sutures, But with an exception the mandible which is joined by the movable Temporomandibular joint(TMJ)
Skull is divided into 2 main parts:
1) Brain box/calvaria- upper part of the skull which encloses the brain
2) The other part include the facial bones +mandible

Study of skull is divided into 2 main types:

1) Outside they can be studied in 5 different views:

Norma verticalis- Superior view
Norma basalis- Inferior view
Norma frontalis- Anterior view
Norma Occipitalis- Posterior view
Norma Lateralis- Lateral view

2) Inside view is studied by removing the roof of the Brain box (calvaria) known as skull cap

General Human Anatomy in the first year consists of the following :

Introduction:

Detailed Anatomy and Osteology of Head and Neck

• Paranasal Air sinuses
• Lymphatics and Air Sinuses
• Gross Anatomy of Brain
• Study Of Cranial Nerves- in detail extra cranial course 5th, 7th and 9th nerves and upper cervical nerves

Embryology:

Embryology of head and neck with emphasis on the development of face, tongue, palates, salivary glands, pharyngeal arches, and pouches.

Histology:

The following topics are discussed and practically shown on slides, specimens which are stained are showed, this helps us in knowing the structure of the particular structure at a cellular level :

• Epithelium including glands and Gastro-intestinal tract.
• Muscle
• Periosteum
• Bone
• Cartilage
• Adipose tissue
• Fibrous tissue
• Elastic tissue
• Lymph tissue
• Blood
• Blood vessels
• Nerves
• Lung
• Kidney
• Spleen-liver-thymus-pancreas
• Endocrine gland

PRACTICALS:

Dissection of head and neck excluding opening of skull and demonstration of wet and dry specimens including brain.

In our syllabus, Human anatomy is divided into 3 sub-divisions -

1. Gross Anatomy
2. Histology
3. Embryology

• Gross Anatomy - It is the study of the human body, for us i mean the dental students we have to deal with the upper extremities i.e the Head and neck. everything here is dealt with detail, it involves the study of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels etc.
• Histology - It is the microscopic study of tissues . It is done by using stained tissues and viewed through a microscope. This enables us to study the cells in detail. All the organs and other structures of the body are studies under this and not restricting us only to head and neck.
• Embryology - It is the study of the development of a human being . Here we get to study the different stages in the development of life. It also teaches us the development of organs in particular, and the defects (anamolies) caused during the development stages. We have to concentrate more on the development of organs related to the oral cavity.