Investigations on the Shape and Size of Molar and Zygomatic Salivary Glands in Shorthair Domestic Cats

The investigation was carried out on five male adult domestic shorthair cats. The zygomatic gland in the cat was with an oval shape with indented borders. It was located on both sides of the head, between the dorsal-medial regions of the zygomatic arch, ventral region of the eyeball and laterally to the masseter muscle. The mean length of the gland was 8.10 ± 1.14 mm and 8.42 ± 0.99 mm for left and right sides respectively in rostrocaudal direction. The mean width of the gland was 19.40 ± 1.14 mm (left side) and 19.10 ± 0.89 mm (right side) in dorsoventral direction. The molar gland was elongated and located obliquely in the submucosal fascia of the inferior lip, near the oral commissure. The dorsal border of the molar gland was attached to masseter muscle and posterior facial nerve. The caudal end neighboured the anterior facial vein and the cranial end was close to the transverse jugular vein. The mean length of the molar gland was 20.40 ± 1.14 mm and 19.90 ± 1.14 mm and the mean width: 5.90 ± 0.74 mm and 5.80 ± 0.83 mm on the left and right side, respectively. There was no significant difference between the dimensions of molar and zygomatic salivary glands from left and right sides.