Salivary Glands

• What type of glands are salivary glands?

  Compound, tubular, merocrine, exocrine glands
• Where do the ducts of salivary glands open?

  Into the oral cavity
• What are the major salivary glands?

  • Parotid
  • Submandibular
  • Sublingual
• What are the minor salivary glands?

  • Buccal
  • Lingual
  • Glosopalatine
• How are salivary glands classified according to secretion type?

  By serous, mucous, or mixed secretion
• Which gland is predominantly serous?

  Parotid gland
• Which gland is predominantly mucous?

  Sublingual gland
• What are the stages of salivary gland formation?

  1. Bud formation
  2. Cord growth
  3. Branching of cords
  4. Lobule formation
  5. Canalization of cords
  6. Cytodifferentiation
• What is the parenchyma of salivary glands composed of?

  Epithelial terminal secretory units and ducts
• What does the connective tissue in salivary glands form?

  The capsule of the gland
• What are the histological components of salivary glands?

  • Acinar units: serous, mucous, myoepithelial cells
  • Ductal units: intercalated, striated, terminal/excretory ducts
  • Connective tissue
• What shape are serous cells in light microscopy?

  Pyramidal
• What do serous cells secrete?

  Thin and watery saliva
• What is the appearance of mucous cells in light microscopy?

  Less pyramidal than serous cells
• What is the primary function of myoepithelial cells?

  Support and contract to aid secretion
• What are the types of ducts in the ductal system of salivary glands?

  • Intercalated ducts
  • Striated ducts
  • Terminal ducts
• What is the role of intercalated ducts?

  Secretion from the terminal end piece
• What characterizes striated ducts?

  Columnar cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm
• What is the function of terminal excretory ducts?

  Carry saliva to the oral cavity
• What are the functions of salivary ducts?

  • Carry primary saliva to the oral cavity
  • Modify saliva through reabsorption and secretion
  • Contain antimicrobial agents
• What are the stages of salivary secretion?

  1. Primary secretion: proteins and electrolytes
  2. Secondary secretion: modification by ductal cells
• What is the role of lysozyme in intercalated duct cells?

  Provides antimicrobial action
• What is the significance of the Phospholipase C pathway?

  Involved in protein and calcium secretion
• What are clinical considerations related to salivary glands?

  • Bacterial infections
  • Viral infections (e.g., Mumps)
  • Xerostomia
  • Tumors (benign and malignant)
  • Sialolithiasis
  • Autoimmune disorders (e.g., Sjogren’s syndrome)
• What is xerostomia?

  Dry oral cavity
• What is sialolithiasis?

  Formation of salivary duct stones