Salivary glands (anatomy)

The human body contains three pairs of salivary glands—the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands—each with distinct locations, duct pathways, and innervation patterns; the parotid gland, located near the ear, is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) via the otic ganglion and auriculotemporal nerve, while the submandibular and sublingual glands are innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII) through the chorda tympani and lingual nerve to the submandibular ganglion, and all three glands produce saliva that plays crucial roles in moistening oral tissues, aiding digestion, protecting teeth, and facilitating taste perception.