UPSC Articles
Tubarial Salivary Glands: Potential new organ in the human throat
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Science and Technology
In news
- Scientists in the Netherlands have discovered a potential new organ in the human throat.
- The discovery was made while carrying out research on prostate cancer.
- Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute have identified a set of salivary glands deep in the upper part of the throat and have named them “tubarial salivary glands”.
- The discovery may be important for cancer treatment.
- Till now, this nasopharynx region (behind the nose) was thought to host only microscopic, diffuse, salivary glands.
- However, the newly discovered glands are about 1.5 inches (3.9 centimeters) in length on average.
- Location: These are located over a piece of cartilage called the torus tubarius.
- Function: The glands probably lubricate and moisten the upper throat behind the nose and mouth.
Do you know?
- Till now, there were three known large salivary glands in humans: one under the tongue, one under the jaw and one at the back of the jaw, behind the cheek.
