â¢ SILICA (noun). The noun SILICA has 1 sense: 1. a white or colorless vitreous insoluble solid (SiO2); various forms occur widely in the earth's crust as quartz or cristobalite or tridymite or lechartelierite.Familiarity information: SILICA used as a noun is very rare.Dictionary entry details.ristobalite (a white mineral consisting of silica; found in volcanic rocks). lechartelierite (a mineral form of vitreous or glassy silica; formed by the melting of quartz sand (as by lightning or a meteorite)).
Besides these glands, there are many tiny glands called minor salivary glands located in your lips, inner cheek area (buccal mucosa), and extensively in other linings of your mouth and throat. Salivary glands produce the saliva used to moisten your mouth, initiate digestion, and help protect your teeth from decay.
The parotid gland (often simply parotid) is a major salivary gland in many animals. In humans, the two parotid glands occur under the mouth and in front of both ears. They are the largest of the salivary glands. Each parotid is wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secretes saliva through the Stensen duct (or parotid duct) into the mouth, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches. The word parotid (paraotic) literally means beside the ear.