Parotid, submandibular, sublingual or minor salivary glands.
The salivary glands are made up of a number of different types of cells. The type of cancer you have is named after the type of cell the cancer started in. This means that your doctor will tell you which salivary gland your cancer started in – the parotid, submandibular, sublingual or minor salivary glands. They will also tell you the type of cell it started from. Most animals have three major pairs of salivary glands that differ in the type of secretion they produce: 1  parotid glands produce a serous, watery secretion. 2  submaxillary (mandibular) glands produce a mixed serous and mucous secretion. 3  sublingual glands secrete a saliva that is predominantly mucous in character. Normal salivary glands are made up of several different types of cells, and tumors can start in any of these cell types. Salivary gland cancers are named according to which of these cell types they most look like when seen under a microscope. Salivary gland cancer starts in one of the salivary glands. It’s not just a single disease. There are actually several different salivary glands found inside and near your mouth. Many types of cancer and benign (non-cancerous) tumors can develop in these glands. The 2 main types of salivary glands are the major salivary glands and minor salivary glands. There are 3 sets of major salivary glands on each side of the face: 1  The parotid glands, the largest salivary glands, are just in front of the ears. 2  About 7 out of 10 salivary gland tumors start here. Cells of the salivary gland. The salivary glands are made up of a number of different types of cells. For example, there are acinic cells, which make and release saliva. And mucoepidermoid cells that line the gland. The type of cancer you have is named after the type of cell the cancer started in. This means that your doctor will tell you which salivary gland your cancer started in – the parotid, submandibular, sublingual or minor salivary glands. They will also tell you the type of cell it started from.
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/salivary-gland-cancer/about/types-salivary-gland-cancer http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/pregastric/salivary.html http://www.cancer.org/cancer/salivaryglandcancer/detailedguide/salivary-gland-cancer-what-is-salivary-gland-cancer http://www.cancer.org/cancer/salivaryglandcancer/detailedguide/salivary-gland-cancer-what-is-salivary-gland-cancer http://www.cancer.org/cancer/salivaryglandcancer/detailedguide/salivary-gland-cancer-what-is-salivary-gland-cancer http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/salivary-gland-cancer/about/types-salivary-gland-cancer
different types of salivary glands