

SALIVARY GLANDS. 501 



lines in diameter: they are found in great abundance beneath the 

 lining membrane of the mouth at several places, to wit: on the 

 lips, (Gland. Labiales;) on the cheeks, (Gland. Buccales;) and 

 also, as mentioned, at the posterior part of the upper surface of 

 the tongue, (Gland. Mucip. Linguce.) The layer of them, (Gland. 

 Palatines,,) which is found at the posterior part of the hard palate, 

 is also continued over the anterior and the posterior surface of 

 the soft palate, especially the anterior surface. 



The Tonsils, (Tonsillce,MmygdaIce,) situated, as observed, one on 

 each side, between the half arches of the palate, are six or eight 

 lines long, four or five wide, and about three thick. They are 

 rather a collection of large mucous follicles, than a congeries of 

 glandular bodies, in consequence of which their surface is very 

 much reticulated. Owing to their being placed upon the upper 

 constrictor of the pharynx, their mobility is very striking and 

 considerable. 



A great many small pores are observed on the internal sur- 

 face of the mouth, which are the orifices of the ducts of the 

 muciparous glands. 



SECT* II. SALIVARY GLANDS. 



On either side of the neck, bordering upon the mouth, there 

 are three glandular bodies for the secretion of saliva; they are 

 the parotid, the submaxillary, and the sublingual. The fluid se- 

 creted from them is of great service in digestion, and is blended 

 with the food in mastication, and in swallowing. According to 

 Berzelius, it has a considerable affinity to oxygen; and consists 

 in a white mucous substance, holding, in a state of solution, the 

 saline articles usually found in the serum of the blood. 



The Parotid Gland (Glandula Parotis,) is the largest of the 

 three, and, like the others, is of a light pink colour. Owing to 

 he space into which it is crowded, it is o a very irregular figure. 

 It fills up the cavity on the side of the head between the mastoid 

 process and the ramus of the lower jaw, extending beyond the 

 edge of the latter so as to cover the posterior margin of the mas- 

 seter muscle. It is somewhat pointed at its fore part. Its ver- 

 tical length reaches from the zygoma above, to the angle of the 

 jaw below; sometimes, indeed, a little lower down. In thick- 



