Preferred Label : saliva-secreting gland;
Uberon definition : saliva-secreting exocrine glands of the oral cavity[GO];
Uberon synonym : salivary gland;
Uberon Homology note : In air-feeding animals, the lack of water column to lubricate the food has been compensated
for by the evolution of the salivary glands. These glands are present only in amniotes
and are controlled by the parasympathetic system.[well established][VHOG];
Uberon Taxon note : The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands, glands with ducts, that produce
saliva. They also secrete amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose.
In other organisms such as insects, salivary glands are often used to produce biologically
important proteins like silk or glues, and fly salivary glands contain polytene chromosomes
that have been useful in genetic research. The salivary glands of some species are
modified to produce enzymes; salivary amylase is found in many, but by no means all,
bird and mammal species (including humans, as noted above). Furthermore, the venom
glands of poisonous snakes, Gila monsters, and some shrews, are modified salivary
glands;
Origin ID : 0001044;
UMLS CUI : C0036098;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- Semantic type(s)
- UMLS correspondences (same concept)
- Uberon cross reference
- contributes to morphology of
- has part
- located in
saliva-secreting exocrine glands of the oral cavity[GO]
