Final answer:
The major salivary glands, which include the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, are situated around the mouth and secrete saliva through various ducts. Minor salivary glands are scattered within the oral mucosa and also aid in food digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The human oral cavity contains several salivary glands, classified as either major or minor, each with associated ducts. The major salivary glands include the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands.
- The parotid glands are the largest of the three, situated in front of the ears, between the skin and the masseter muscle, and secrete saliva through the parotid ducts, near the second upper molars.
- The submandibular glands are located in the floor of the mouth, secreting saliva via the submandibular ducts.
- The sublingual glands lie beneath the tongue, using the lesser sublingual ducts for secretion into the oral cavity.
In addition to these three major glands, numerous minor salivary glands are embedded within the oral mucosa lining the mouth and tongue. These produce saliva as well, contributing to the digestion of food through enzymes like amylase and lipase.