It is  a bilateral structure which is wrapped around the mandibular ramus. It secretes saliva through the Stensen duct (also called the parotid duct) into the mouth. Its’ function is to help with mastication (chewing) of food and swallowing. Its’ enzymes (amylase and amylopectin) help break down the starch in food which starts the digestion of these starches (maltose) in the oral cavity.

The parotid glands secrete a mixed substance known as saliva. The sublingual glands are unlike the other two major salivary glands, both of which also secrete this mixed substance (saliva), in that they (sublingual glands) are not encapsulated in a capsule of tissue which is found  surrounding the other two major salivary glands, the parotid and submaxillary (also called the submandibular). The sublingual glands have many ducts (Rivinius ducts) that empty where the floor of the mouth and the tongue meet.

Several combine to form what is called Bartholin’s ducts which are the larger of the major ducts of the sublingual glands which empty into the submaxillary duct. These major salivary glands secrete a mixed fluid that is mainly mucus (saliva). They are exocrine glands (glands that secrete their products (enzymes) into ducts).