Exam Essentials: Head & Neck Spotters for NEET SS Surgery

Minor Salivary Glands

There are more than 800 -1000 minor salivary glands present. They are ectodermal in origin and develop from the upper respiratory ectoderm. They are individual units with a simple tubuloacinar system. They lack a distinct capsule. 70-90% of Minor salivary glands are located in the oral cavity and oropharynx mainly along the mucosa of the lips, buccal mucosa, palate and retromolar area. The other sites are nose, pharynx, larynx, para nasal sinuses. Minor salivary glands contribute 10% of salivary volume. The secretion can be serous, mucous, seromucous, or a mixed secretion. Minor salivary glands have an important contribution to saliva secretion during sleep.

Cysts or Mucocele

Mucous extravasation cysts and mucous retention cysts can occur in the salivary gland. Ranula is an extravasation mucocele that mainly occurs due to the rupture of the main duct or the obstructed acini of the sublingual gland. Ranula is a mucous extravasation cyst arising from the sublingual gland. It presents as a bluish swelling in the anterior floor of the mouth and appears like a frog's trunk or air sac of the frog.

Retention Cysts

The mucous retention cyst of a salivary gland is mainly associated with the accumulation of the secretion due to obstruction of the duct by the periductal scars, sialolithiasis, or pressure from the surrounding tissues. The mucous retention cyst most commonly forms in relation to the ductal system of the minor salivary glands. The retention cyst can regress spontaneously, and sometimes surgical excision of the cyst is required.

Pleomorphic Adenoma

The most common benign tumour of the salivary glands is Pleomorphic adenoma. More than 80% arise from the parotid gland. These can also be found in the submandibular gland and hard palate.

In the parotid gland, they most commonly arise from the tail or superficial lobe of the parotid gland. Though they can occur at any age, the most common age group is between the 3rd and the 6th decade of life., with an average age around 45 years. They are slightly more common in females.

Ectopic / Aberrant Salivary Tissue

It can manifest well demarcated unilocular osteolytic radiolucency of the jaw which is called as STAFNE BONE CYST. The most common location – Posterior region of mandible between the angle of mandible and the first molar and lies below the inferior dental neurovascular bundle.

Cause – Congenital entrapment of salivary tissue during the mandibular development and it houses the submandibular gland most commonly. The patients are asymptomatic and do not require any active treatment.

Retromolar Trigone

Retromolar Trigone is an area of attached mucosa over the ascending ramus of the mandible which lies posterior to the last molar tooth and extends superiorly onto the maxillary tuberosity.

Erythroplakia

A bright red velvety plaque found in the oral cavity which cannot be clinically/ pathologically characterised as any recognisable condition.

Also Read: Important MCQ's For Head & Neck in NEET SS Surgery

Oral Submucous Fibrosis

• A potentially malignant condition.
• More common in Asia.
• More commonly seen in females.

Cystic Hygroma (Lymphangioma)

Cystic hygroma is a lymphatic malformation that arises because of the sequestration of the developing lymphatic tissue during embryological development. During embryological development, some part of the developing lymphatic tissue, the lymphatic sacs, gets sequestered from the main trunk. Once they get sequestered out, they will develop cystic

swelling. That is called lymphangioma, or cystic hygroma. Lymphatic sacs, or jugular lymphatic sacs, are most commonly involved.

Ludwig's Angina

Ludwig's angina is an inflammatory condition, or cellulitis, of the soft tissue of the neck and the floor of the mouth (FOM). There are three spaces where Ludwig's angina can occur.

• It can occur in sublingual space.
• It can occur below the mylohyoid muscle in the submandibular space, and
• It can occur in submental space.

Also read: Important MCQ’s in Rheumatology For NEET SS Medicine

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