anatomy of salivary glands Flashcards
What are the 3 pairs of major salivary glands?
-parotid
-submandibular
-sublingual glands
Parotid gland location
-wedged between mandibular ramus and its associated muscles in front and the mastoid process and sternocleidomastoid muscle behind
-superficial part of gland has inverted triangular outline and extends from zygomatic arch to angle of mandible
How does parotid gland secrete saliva?
via parotid duct which opens into mouth through parotid papilla on buccal mucosa adjacent to upper second molars
Submandibular gland location
-consists of a large superficial part, located in the neck on medial surface of mandible
-small deep part lying in posterior part of floor of the mouth on lateral part of tongue
How does submandibular gland secrete saliva
-via submandibular duct which opens into the floor of the mouth through the sublingual papilla on one side of the attachment of lingual frenulum
Location of sublingual gland
-found entirely on floor of mouth in front of deep lobe of submandibular gland
-in the second to the premolar region
-lies directly under the lining mucosa of floor of mouth which is raised as sublingual fold
How does submandibular gland secrete saliva
onto floor of mouth through several tiny ducts on crest of sublingual fold
Minor salivary glands
small collections of secretory issue embedded within submucosa through most of oral cavity
How many salivary glands are there
450-1,000
Where are salivary glands they not found??
-gingiva/dorsum of anterior 2/3 tongue
How do salivary glands develop?
-proliferation of oral epithelial cells, forming localised thickening that grows into underlying ectomesenchyme
-continued growth leads to epithelial bud connected to surface by cord of epithelial cells, with mesenchymal cells condensing around bud
-oral-epithelium derived tissue forms the ducts and secretory elements of salivary gland
Where do surrounding mesenchymal connective tissues of salivary glands derived from
neural crest
What 2 elements do salivary glands consist of?
-glandular secretory tissue (parenchyma)
-supporting connective tissue (stroma)
How do glandular secretory tissue and supporting connective tissue interact? In major salivary glands
-connective tissue forms a capsule that surrounds and protects the gland and septa subdivide the gland into major lobes
-secretory units in each lobe consist of clusters of grape-like structures 9acini) positioned around lumen
What is acini?
-composed of secretory cells can produce the primary secretion which varies according to secretory cells within
What does duct system do?
-collects and modifies the secretion through progressively larger ducts to a main duct which carries saliva to mucosal tissue
What type of cells does acini contain?
-Acini contain either serous cells, mucous cells, or may be mixed.
What is serous demilune?
-When mixed, the serous cells, in histologic sections, appear to form a cap termed a ‘serous demilune’, this arrangement has been shown to be the result of an artefact of preparation.
What shape are acini?
-Acini tend to be spherical in shape, although those composed only of mucous cells appear to form tubes rather than spheres.
What is intercalated duct
-first part
-Each group of secretory cells surround a lumen and empty into a small, duct termed an intercalated duct.
What is striated duct
2nd part
Serous acini vs mucous acini
-by the nature of the secretion they produce They produce a watery fluid that is more protein rich and has less carbohydrate than mucous cells. The mucous cells produce a more viscous, mucin-rich product.
How can you distinguish serous and mucous by histology
- serous cells which appear darker from the paler mucous cells.
What are contractile cells?
-Around the acini and intercalated ductal cells, contractile cells with several processes are present and represent the myoepithelial cells.
Appearance of serous acini
-Serous cells have a characteristic dark granular appearance with haematoxylin and eosin staining when viewed under a light microscope.
-The granular appearance results from the numerous refractile granules in the part of the cell adjacent to the lumen.
-The cells have a wedge-shaped outline, and are arranged like pizza slices around a narrow central lumen.
Inside cell structure
The nuclei, and rough endoplasmic reticulum, are located at the basal end of the cell next to the connective tissue from which they are separated by a basal lamina.
Where are capillaries
Capillaries are seen in close proximity to this surface
What is at the other end of these cells
The other end of these cells contain many dense, round secretory granules, in which the molecular components of saliva are stored and later release into lumen by exocytosis.
What happens during mastication
During mastication, the number of granules decreases significantly as they are discharged into the lumen due to reflex stimulation of salivation.
What re gap junctions
Gap junctions allow communication and coordination between adjacent serous cells and tight junctions control passage of water and certain ions between the cells.
Appearance of mucous acini
In routine light microscopy with haematoxylin and eosin staining, mucous acini appear as collections of pale cells since their mucin content does not readily take up these stains.
-However, when stains that reveal acidic glycoproteins, such as the periodic acid–Schiff stain, are used the secretory material is strongly stained.
Structure of mucous cells and lumen
-Secretory acini that are composed of mucous cells often have a tubular arrangement; when cut in cross section, these tubules have round profiles with mucous cells surrounding a central lumen of larger size than that of serous end pieces
Secretory granules
-the mucous cells display numerous secretory granules that are easily distinguished from those of serous cells by their pale appearance.
Nuclei of mucous cells
-The nuclei of mucous cells are round and centrally located when secretory granules have been discharged following stimulation of salivary secretion.
Unstimulated mucous cells nucleus
are filled with secretory granules and their nuclei are more peripherally placed. (pushed away)
What is demilune?
- -mucous acini have it at end of cell
Serous demilunes are the serous cells at the distal end of mucous tubuloalveolar secretory unit of certain salivary glands. These demilune cells secrete the proteins that contain the enzyme lysozyme, which degrades the cell walls of bacteria. - -small portion of serous cells arranged in demilune, only at end of tubules
-Note that conventional fixation methods result in distension of the mucous secretory granules and cells; the nuclei are flattened and compressed into the basal part of the cell, and in mixed acini, the serous cells are displaced towards the basal portion of the acinus to form demilunes.
What are myoepithelial cells
-contractile cells associated with. the secretory acini and intercalated ducts of the salivary glands
-produce self contraction