Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands
Welcome to the Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands section of ENT!
This section offers concise, exam-focused notes on the oral cavity and salivary glands, curated to help MBBS and ENT students prepare confidently for theory exams, practicals, and clinical discussions.
What are the Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands?
The oral cavity marks the beginning of the digestive and respiratory tracts. It plays essential roles in mastication, speech, taste, and deglutition. It includes structures like the tongue, teeth, palate, floor of mouth, and buccal mucosa.
The salivary glands — parotid, submandibular, and sublingual — produce saliva, which aids in digestion, lubrication, and oral health. These glands are clinically important in cases of sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, tumors, and nerve injuries during surgeries.
Here you’ll find high-yield notes covering:
- Anatomy of the oral cavity and salivary glands
- Blood supply, lymphatic drainage, and innervation
- Muscles of the tongue and floor of the mouth
- Physiology of salivation
- Pathologies: ulcers, leukoplakia, malignancies, infections
- Sialadenitis and sialolithiasis — diagnosis and treatment
- Tumors of the parotid and submandibular glands
- Surgical approaches and complications (e.g., facial nerve preservation)
- Viva and MCQ-friendly facts
—all designed for quick revision, conceptual clarity, and clinical application.