What two salivary glands are accessible to examination on the face?

The major salivary glands provide the primary volume of serous and mucous secretions required for oral homeostasis. The parotid glands are situated anterior to the ear over the mandible, while the submandibular glands lie beneath the body of the mandible. Their excretory ducts (Stensen and Wharton) are also accessible for inspection. Palpation detects sialolithiasis or hypertrophy. A. Occipital and submental: These terms refer to specific lymph node chains, not salivary glands. The occipital nodes are at the base of the skull, and the submental nodes are under the chin. They do not produce saliva and are part of the lymphatic system. B. Parotid and submandibular: These are the two largest pairs of salivary glands accessible during a physical exam of the face and neck. The parotid is felt in the preauricular area, and the submandibular is palpable medial to the margin of the mandible. The third pair, the sublingual, is hidden deep in the floor of the mouth. C. Parotid and jugulodigastric: While the parotid is a salivary gland, the jugulodigastric is a large lymph node located near the angle of the mandible. It is often the first node to enlarge in tonsillitis but is not a glandular structure responsible for saliva production. D. Submandibular and occipital: Similar to option A, this choice incorrectly combines a salivary gland with a lymph node group. The occipital area contains no salivary tissue. Only the submandibular and parotid glands are surface-accessible salivary structures during a head and neck assessment.