Anatomy Of Salivary Glands

Question 1

3 major salivary glands

Answer 1

Bilateral pairs;
Parotid glands
Submandibular glands
Sublingual glands

Question 2

When do the salivary glands form?

Answer 2

First 4-6 weeks of development

Question 3

Position of the parotid glands

Answer 3

Below external auditory meatus (ear)
Between mastoid process and posterior border of ramus

Question 4

Parotid gland saliva volume and constituency

Answer 4

25% total saliva volume
100% serous saliva

Question 5

Parotid gland ducts

Answer 5

Stensens OR parotid duct
5cm long
Runs from; gland outside masseter muscle, parallel and 1cm below zygomatic arch
Opens buccally upper first molar regions

Question 6

Parotid gland nerve innervation

Answer 6

Glossopharyngeal (autonomic)
Auriculotemporal (sensory)
Intimately associated with the Facial
nerve

Question 7

Position of submandibular gland

Answer 7

Between body of mandible and mylohyoid muscle, in submandibular fossa

Question 8

Submandibular gland saliva volume and composition

Answer 8

60-65% total saliva volume
Mixed serous and mucous saliva secretions

Question 9

Submandibular gland duct

Answer 9

Wharton’s duct
5cm long
Opens under anterior part of tongue, lateral to lingual fraenum at sublingual caruncle

Question 10

Submandibular gland nerve innervation

Answer 10

Chorda tympani (branches from facial nerve)
Lingual branch of the inferior dental nerve

Question 11

Position of sublingual gland

Answer 11

Floor of mouth in the sublingual fossa

Question 12

Sublingual gland saliva volume and composition

Answer 12

5-10% total saliva volume
60% mucous saliva

Question 13

Sublingual gland duct

Answer 13

Bartholin’s duct
10-20 smaller ducts (Rivinus ducts) open along the sublingual fold

Question 14

Sublingual gland nerve innervation

Answer 14

Chorda tympani (branches from facial nerve)
Lingual branch of the inferior dental nerve

Question 15

What are the new discovery glands and where are they located

Answer 15

Tubarial glands
Located in nasopharynx

Question 16

Saliva volume and composition of minor salivary glands

Answer 16

Less than 10% total saliva volume
Mixed saliva, mainly mucous
Produce lots of salivary proteins

Question 17

How are the minor salivary glands named

Answer 17

According to location; Labial, buccal, palatine, lingual

Question 18

Minor salivary glands nerve innervation

Answer 18

Parasympathetic innervation
Sympathetic innervation

Question 19

Minor salivary gland ducts

Answer 19

Numerous small groups of secretory units opening via short ducts directly into the mouth.

Question 20

What lines the ducts and protects the saliva?

Answer 20

Epithelium

Question 21

What surrounds the epithelium, protecting and supporting the gland?

Answer 21

Connective tissue

Question 22

2 types of connective tissue

Answer 22

Capsule - surrounds the outer portion of gland
Septum - divides inner portion of gland into lobes and lobules

Question 23

What do the capsule and septum do?

Answer 23

Carry nerve and blood to supply the cells.

Question 24

Adenomeres

Answer 24

Working part of salivary gland and surrounded by connective tissue

Question 25

What are within the adenomeres and what does their base rest against?

Answer 25

Secretory cells - acini
Their base rests against surrounding connective tissue

Question 26

2 classifications of acini

Answer 26

Mucous acini
Serous acini
(Or mixture of both)

Question 27

Functions of serous saliva

Answer 27

Lubricating food
Enzymic action begins digestion
Removing epithelial debris
Diluting food

Question 28

Serous secretory cells

Answer 28

Serous acini

Question 29

Mucous secretory cells

Answer 29

Mucous acini

Question 30

Which secretory cell has a wider lumen

Answer 30

Mucous acini

Question 31

Functions of mucous saliva

Answer 31

Binding food into a bolus
Protect the oral cavity against frictional abrasion
Lubrication

Question 32

What is formed in a mixed serous-mucous acini

Answer 32

Serous demilune around mucous secretory cells

Question 33

Myoepithelial Cells

Answer 33

Embrace the acini secretory cells, contracting and squeezing, forcing the saliva out of the lumen and into the ducts

Question 34

Acinar Fluid

Answer 34

Consists of;
Water
Inorganic Ions
Small molecules and products synthesised by cells (mucoproteins and amylase)

Question 35

What follows the secretory end piece

Answer 35

Ducts

Question 36

3 different types of duct

Answer 36

Intercalated
Striated
Excretory

Question 37

Structure of intercalated duct

Answer 37

Simple cuboidal epithelial cells

Question 38

Structure of striated ducts

Answer 38

Simple columnar epithelial cells with basal striations

Question 39

Which ducts aids in the modification of saliva

Answer 39

Striated duct

Question 40

What type duct does the saliva exit into the oral cavity

Answer 40

Excretory duct (terminal)

Question 41

Structure of excretory duct

Answer 41

Lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium, then changes to stratified cuboidal and finally stratified squamous epithelium at its opening.

Question 42

Blood supply

Answer 42

Supplied by external carotid artery and facial lingual artery.
Vessels and nerves enter at hilum.
2 capillary networks; one for secretory end piece and one for ducts.

Question 43

Control of salivation

Answer 43

Salivary nuclei in brain are stimulated by taste, smell, thoughts.
Triggers neurotransmitter release from nerve endings of salivary glands.

Question 44

What can cause obstruction

Answer 44

Caniculi - calcium deposits in ducts, common in submandibular and can lead to infection.

Cysts - trauma to salivary gland causing accumulation of saliva in surrounding tissue.

Question 45

2 types of cysts

Answer 45

Mucocele - minor glands
Ranula - major glands in the floor of the mouth (could be submandibular or sublingual)

Question 46

What causes hyposalivation

Answer 46

Medications or tablets
Radiotherapy
Autoimmune diseases
Diabetes
Salivary stones (can cause severe pain when eating)

Question 47

What can irradiation of head and neck cause

Answer 47

Destroys secretory cells (atrophy) and leads to xerosomia

Question 48

Causes of xerostomia

Answer 48

Emotional disturbances - anxiety
Mouth breathing
Smoking
Drugs
Talking for long periods
Medical condition/medication

Question 49

Caniculi

Answer 49

• Calcium deposit formation in salivary duct.
• Common in submandibular.
• Can lead to; infection, inflammation, blocked duct/gland.

Question 50

Mucocele

Answer 50

Trauma to minor salivary glands causing accumulation of saliva and surrounding tissue; cyst.

Question 51

Clinical appearance of Mucocele

Answer 51

Moveable
Painless
Soft round dome
Pearly/semi clear or blueish

Question 52

Ranula

Answer 52

Trauma to major salivary glands on floor of mouth, balloon of saliva; cyst.
Can lead to obstruction of the gland/duct.

Question 53

Acute viral infection causing inflammation and painful swelling of the parotid glands

Answer 53

Mumps

Question 54

Inflammation of minor salivary glands on palate in response to heat from tobacco

Answer 54

Nicotine stomatitis

Question 55

Painless bilateral swelling of parotid glands not caused by inflammation or infection

Answer 55

Sialosis

Question 56

Neoplasms

Answer 56

Tumours
(Benign or malignant)

Question 57

Oral symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome

Answer 57

• mild erythema and thinning of mucosa.
• erythema, fissuring, coating and depapillation of dorsum of tongue.
• traumatic erosions and lesions; ulcers, angular chelitis.
• thickened saliva

Question 58

What saliva is viscous mucin rich?

Answer 58

Mucous saliva

Question 59

What saliva is watery?

Answer 59

Serous saliva