[Functional anatomy and terminal tubules of Stensen's duct]

The dynamic anatomy of STENSEN's duct is somewhat different from what is usually accepted. GUERRIER, COURBIER and FRANCHEBOIS had indeed admitted that the buccinator msucle acted as a passive sphincter, without however mentioning the presence of terminal siphons and canalar valvules and without drawing particular attention to their dynamic relationship. This duct should not be considered inert, as part of a theoretical bayonet-like pathway which is more topographical than functional: the buccinator muscle and STENSEN's duct with its valvules and terminal siphons should be considered together as forming the real salivation apparatus.