Just when we thought we knew every nook and cranny of the human body, scientists may have found something new hiding in plain sight—right inside our heads. These mysterious structures are called the tubarial glands, and if confirmed, they could represent a previously unrecognized set of major salivary glands.
The Discovery Nobody Saw Coming
In 2020, researchers in the Netherlands made a surprising observation while scanning cancer patients using a special type of imaging called a PSMA PET/CT scan. This scan highlights salivary tissue, and unexpectedly, it revealed two bright, symmetrical spots in an area that had never been labeled as a salivary gland before.
These spots were located in the nasopharynx—the upper part of the throat that sits behind the nose and above the soft palate—right around a small bump of tissue known as the torus tubarius. That’s where the Eustachian tube (which connects the middle ear to the throat) opens. Because of this location, the researchers named the new structures the tubarial glands.
What Do They Do?
Like other salivary glands, the tubarial glands appear to produce mucus and saliva that help lubricate and protectnearby tissues. In this case, they seem to keep the nasopharynx and the entrance to the Eustachian tubes moist—important for comfortable swallowing, speaking, and equalizing pressure in the ears.
We already have three pairs of major salivary glands that handle most of the saliva in the mouth:
Parotid glands – just in front of your ears
Submandibular glands – beneath your jawline
Sublingual glands – under your tongue
If the tubarial glands are confirmed as distinct and functionally significant, they would be recognized as a fourth pair of major salivary glands.
Why This Matters
The discovery isn’t just interesting trivia—it could have real medical importance. When people receive radiation therapy for head and neck cancers, damage to salivary glands can cause chronic dry mouth, sore throat, and swallowing difficulties.
Knowing that there’s another pair of salivary glands near the nasopharynx could help doctors adjust radiation plans to protect this tissue and prevent complications.
Not Everyone’s Convinced
Of course, science loves a good debate. Some anatomists and radiologists believe the “tubarial glands” might not actually be a new organ. Instead, they might just be part of the cluster of minor salivary glands that are already known to exist throughout the upper throat and nasal passages.
Follow-up studies using dissection and imaging have shown mixed results—some confirm the structures look distinct, while others see no clear difference. So for now, the tubarial glands remain a fascinating maybe.
The Takeaway
Whether these structures end up officially recognized or not, the story of the tubarial glands is a perfect reminder that our anatomy isn’t as fully mapped as we think. Even with centuries of medical research and the most advanced imaging technology, our own bodies can still surprise us.
Next time you swallow, yawn, or pop your ears on an airplane, think about it: there might be a pair of hidden glands quietly helping everything run smoothly—right behind your nose.
Fun Fact:
Humans have over 1,000 minor salivary glands scattered in the lips, cheeks, palate, and throat. So, even if the tubarial glands don’t make the “major” list, they’re part of a much larger team keeping your mouth and throat comfortable.
References:
Matthijs H. Valstar et al. The tubarial salivary glands: A potential new organ at risk for radiotherapy. Radiotherapy and Oncology, published online September 23, 2020; doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.09.034
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