Questions and Answers
What is the shape of the functional unit of the salivary glands?
What is the main function of the myoepithelial cells?
What is the characteristic of the cytoplasm of striated duct cells?
What is the location of the excretory ducts?
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What is the characteristic of the nucleus of serous acini?
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What is the type of glands stimulated by the parasympathetic nervous system?
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What is the function of the secretion of serous glands?
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What is the shape of the myoepithelial cells?
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What is the main type of protein secreted by serous glands?
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Which of the following glands is classified as a mixed gland?
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What is the daily production range of saliva in humans?
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Where do the parotid glands secrete saliva into the oral cavity?
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What type of secretion do mucous glands primarily produce?
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Which gland is the largest of the salivary glands?
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What is the composition of salivary glands derived from?
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What viral infection is associated with the parotid glands?
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What percentage of saliva in the oral cavity is produced by the submandibular glands?
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Which type of secretion is primarily produced by the sublingual glands?
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Which structure is responsible for carrying saliva from submandibular glands to the oral cavity?
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Where are minor salivary glands primarily located?
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What is the main function of the minor salivary glands?
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What type of epithelium lines the intercalated ducts in the salivary glands?
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Which ducts constitute the largest portion of the duct system in salivary glands?
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What is a characteristic feature of minor salivary glands compared to major salivary glands?
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Study Notes
Salivary Glands
- Exocrine glands that produce saliva through a system of ducts
- Three paired major salivary glands: parotid, submandibular, and sublingual
- Hundreds of minor salivary glands
- Classification:
- Serous glands: thin, watery secretion rich in enzymes (e.g., parotid gland)
- Mucous glands: thick, viscous secretion for protection and lubrication (e.g., sublingual salivary gland)
- Mixed glands (seromucous): both watery and viscous material (e.g., submandibular salivary gland)
Histology of Salivary Glands
- Composed of parenchyma elements derived from oral epithelium
- Consists of secretary end pieces (acini) and ducts that open into the oral cavity
- Connective tissue forms a capsule around the gland and extends into it, dividing groups of secretary units and ducts into lobes and lobules
Major Salivary Glands
- Parotid gland: largest of the salivary glands, secretes saliva to facilitate mastication and swallowing, and amylase to begin the digestion of starches
- Serous type of gland, secretes alpha-amylase
- Enters the oral cavity via the parotid duct (Stensen's duct) opposite the second molar
- Produces 20% of the total salivary content in the oral cavity
- Submandibular gland: a pair of major salivary glands located beneath the lower jaws, superior to the digastric muscles
- Secretion produced is a mixture of both serous fluid and mucus
- Enters the oral cavity via the submandibular duct or Wharton's duct
- Produces around 70% of saliva in the oral cavity
- Sublingual gland: a pair of major salivary glands located inferior to the tongue, anterior to the submandibular glands
- Secretion produced is mainly mucous in nature
- About 5% of saliva entering the oral cavity comes from these glands
Minor Salivary Glands
- Around 800 to 1,000 minor salivary glands are located throughout the oral cavity
- Located in the tissue of the buccal, labial, and lingual mucosa, the soft palate, the lateral parts of the hard palate, and the floor of the mouth
- Ducts are not encapsulated by connective tissue, only surrounded by it
- Secretion is mainly mucous in nature, and has many functions such as coating the oral cavity with saliva
Ducts
- Intercalated ducts: primary saliva produced by the secretory end pieces passes first through these ducts
- Lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium
- Smaller in diameter than the end pieces, and their lumina are larger than those of the end pieces
- Striated ducts: receive the primary saliva from the intercalated ducts
- Located within the lobules of the gland, that is, intralobular
- Striated duct cells are columnar, with a centrally placed nucleus and pale, acidophilic cytoplasm
- Excretory ducts: located in the connective tissue septa between the lobules of the gland, that is, in an extralobular or interlobular location
- Larger in diameter than striated ducts, and typically have a pseudostratified epithelium with columnar cells
Functional Unit of the Salivary Glands
- The terminal secretory piece called acini, with a roughly spherical or tubular shape
- Consists of branched ducts for the passage of the saliva and plays an important role in the production and modification of saliva
Myoepithelial Cells
- Contractile cells (contain the contractile filaments actin and myosin)
- Have many similarities to smooth muscle but are derived from epithelium
- Present around the secretary acini, with a stellate shape and resemble the basket cradling the secretary units
- Contraction of these cells is thought to provide support for the acini and intercalated ducts during active secretion of saliva
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Description
Learn about the salivary glands, their types, and functions in producing saliva. This quiz covers the major and minor salivary glands and their secretions.
