Von Ebner's glands, also called Ebner's glands or gustatory glands, are
exocrine gland
Exocrine glands are glands that secrete substances onto an epithelial surface by way of a duct. Examples of exocrine glands include sweat, salivary, mammary, ceruminous, lacrimal, sebaceous, prostate and mucous. Exocrine glands are one of ...
s found in the mouth. More specifically, they are
serous salivary glands
The salivary glands in many vertebrates including mammals are exocrine glands that produce saliva through a system of Duct (anatomy), ducts. Humans have three paired major salivary glands (Parotid gland, parotid, Submandibular gland, submandibula ...
which reside adjacent to the moats surrounding the
circumvallate and foliate papillae just anterior to the posterior third of the tongue in its submucosa, anterior to the
terminal sulcus.
These glands are named after
Victor von Ebner, an
Austrian histologist.
Von Ebner's glands secrete
lingual lipase,
beginning the process of
lipid
Lipids are a broad group of organic compounds which include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include storing ...
hydrolysis
Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution reaction, substitution, elimination reaction, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water ...
in the mouth. These glands empty their serous secretion into the base of the moats around the foliate and
circumvallate papillae. This secretion presumably flushes material from the mouth to enable the taste buds to respond rapidly to changing stimuli.
Von Ebner's glands are innervated by cranial nerve IX, the
glossopharyngeal nerve.
See also
*
List of distinct cell types in the adult human body
The list of human cell types provides an enumeration and description of the various specialized cells found within the human body, highlighting their distinct functions, characteristics, and contributions to overall physiological processes. Cell ...
References
External links
''Anton Gilbert Viktor Ebner, Ritter von Rofenstein'' entry @ whonamedit.com*
*
*
*
at University of Southern California
Glands of mouth
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