Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. (context anatomy English) Any of several exocrine glands that produce saliva to break down carbohydrates in food enzymatically.
WordNet
n. any of three pairs of glands in the mouth and digestive system that secrete saliva for digestion
Wikipedia
The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands, glands with ducts, that produce saliva, which is formed of several things including amylase, a digestive enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose and glucose. In humans and some other mammals the secretion is alpha-amylase also known as ptyalin.
Usage examples of "salivary gland".
This was discovered in 1937, when a group of German physiologists found that blood serum and an extract of the salivary gland mixed were capable of bringing about the contraction of an isolated segment of the wall of the large intestine.
The output of these neurons in turn eventually runs to the salivary gland, signaling for the salivation to start.
The thought of food was a winner and Bill gurgled happily as saliva spurted into his mouth from every dusty salivary gland.
Spit flooded from every salivary gland he owned, including a few he hadn’.