salivary gland
C2Formal, Technical, Academic, Medical
Definition
Meaning
A gland in animals and humans that produces saliva.
A specialized exocrine gland, usually occurring in pairs or groups (parotid, submandibular, sublingual), that secretes saliva into the mouth through ducts, aiding in digestion and oral hygiene.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A count noun (e.g., "two salivary glands"). Refers to a specific anatomical structure. The concept is concrete but the term itself is specialized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. Orthographically, "salivary" is spelled the same. No regional variants exist for this term.
Connotations
Neutral and clinical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in everyday speech but common in medical/biological contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [adj] salivary gland [verb, e.g., secretes, became swollen].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Only in specific contexts like pharmaceutical/biotech reports.
Academic
Common in biology, anatomy, dentistry, and medical science texts and lectures.
Everyday
Rare. Used only when discussing specific health issues.
Technical
The primary context. Used in medical diagnoses, surgical procedures, and physiological descriptions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The salivary gland tissue was examined.
- A salivary gland disorder can affect digestion.
American English
- The salivary gland function is crucial.
- He underwent salivary gland surgery.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Your salivary glands are in your mouth.
- The doctor said my salivary gland is swollen.
- A blocked salivary gland can cause significant pain and swelling in the cheek.
- Saliva is produced by three main pairs of salivary glands.
- Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects the parotid salivary glands.
- Oncologists differentiated between a benign and a malignant salivary gland tumour.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SALLY (Salivary) who is very VARY (vary) in how much she talks (produces saliva), and she has a GLAND to thank for it.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A FACTORY (The gland is a production unit secreting a necessary fluid).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque like "слюнная железа" being back-translated as "slime gland" or "drool gland". The English term is precise and clinical.
- Do not confuse with "thyroid gland" or "sweat gland". Ensure the adjective "salivary" is correctly linked to saliva.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronunciation: /səˈlaɪ.və.ri/ instead of /ˈsæl.ɪ.vər.i/.
- Misspelling: "salivatory gland", "saliivary gland".
- Incorrect plural: "salivary glands" (correct) vs. "salivaries glands".
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a major salivary gland in humans?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Humans have three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands.
Their primary function is to produce and secrete saliva, which moistens food, begins the digestion of starches, and helps maintain oral hygiene.
You typically cannot feel healthy salivary glands. They become noticeable and often painful when swollen due to infection, blockage (e.g., a stone), or other diseases.
Yes, it is a closed compound noun where 'salivary' (adjective derived from 'saliva') modifies the noun 'gland' to specify the type.