Case 2 - Salivary Glands

Question 1

How much is the normal PH of saliva ?

Answer 1

6.5 - 6.9

Question 2

What causes a poor cell staining in routine preparations of mucous cells ?

Answer 2

apical granules with hydrophilic mucins

Question 3

What are the important functions of the saliva ?

Answer 3

1) Buffering

2) Evaporative cooling

Question 4

How much percentage of the saliva volume does the intrinsic salivary glands make up ?

Answer 4

10%

Explanation: 90% is made up by the extrinsic salivary glands

Question 5

What does a gland contain that makes its secretion either serous, seromucous, or mucous ?

Answer 5

The glycoprotein mucin content of a gland

Question 6

A 56-year old man was referred to the outpatient clinic complaining of dry mouth, impaired speech, eating and swallowing food. Investigations revealed he took antihistamines to treat his allergy from pollen . What is the accurate diagnosis for his condition?

Answer 6

xerostomia

Explanation:

• Xerostomia ( dry mouth ) is inadequate saliva production in the major salivary glands and could be caused by the following:
  1) mumps viral infection
  2) radiation of the glands
  3) the normal side effect of drugs such as antihistamines.

Question 8

What are the cells the salivary secretory units is comprised of ?

Answer 8

1) Serous cells
2) Mucous cells
3) Myoepithelial cells

Question 9

Which structure surrounds the major salivary glands ?

a) connective tissue capsule
b) seromucous coat
c)

Answer 9

a) connective tissue capsule

Question 10

Which of the major salivary glands is the largest?

Answer 10

Parotid gland

Question 11

Which structure subdivides the glands into lobules ?

Answer 11

Septa of connective tissues

Question 12

Which of the following is true about the serous cells ?

a) found inside the basal lamina surrounding acini
b) columnar in shape
c) well-stained RER and apical secretory granules
d) apical granules with hydrophilic mucins

Answer 12

c) well-stained RER and apical secretory granules

Question 13

Which type of epithelial cell has the following features ?

• Organized as cylindrical tubules
• Has apical granules with hydrophilic mucins
• Columnar in shape, with more compressed basal nuclei

Answer 13

Mucous cells

Question 14

Which cell is found surrounding acini, tubules, and the proximal ends of the duct system ?

Answer 14

Myoepithelial cells

Question 15

Why are the myoepithelial cells important in the ducts ?

Answer 15

Because they move secretory products into and through the ducts

Question 16

Which epithelial cell is joined apically by tight and adherent junctions?

Answer 16

Serous cells

Question 17

What is the lining of the short intercalated ducts?

a) low cuboidal epithelium
b) low columnar epithelium
c) high cuboidal epithelium
d) high cuboidal epithelium

Answer 17

a) low cuboidal epithelium

Question 18

Which type of epithelial cell has the following features ?

• round nuclei
• pyramidal in shape
• polarized protein-secreting cells
• well-stained RER
• apical secretory granules

Answer 18

Serous cell

Question 19

Which of the following has ion-transporting cells ?

a) intercalated ducts
b) mucous tubules
c) Serous acini
d) striated ducts

Answer 19

d) striated ducts

Question 20

Which of the following is characterized by basal nuclei with condensed chromatin ?

a) intercalated ducts
b) mucous tubules
c) Serous acini
d) striated ducts

Answer 20

b) mucous tubules

Question 21

What is the function of apical granules located in the mucous cells ?

Answer 21

provide lubricating properties in saliva

Question 22

Which gland secrets amylase and other proteins for storage in secretory granules ?

Answer 22

large parotid gland

Question 23

A patient presented to the outpatient clinic suffers from poor oral and facial muscle control leading to inflammation within her oral cavity . What is her diagnosis?

Answer 23

sialorrhea

Explanation: 
sialorrhea is a problem of excessive saliva production associated with the autonomic activity of 
1) nausea
2) inflammation within the oral cavity
3) rabies viral infection.

Question 24

A 56-year old man was referred to the outpatient clinic complaining of dry mouth, impaired speech, eating and swallowing food. Investigations revealed he took antihistamines to treat his allergy from pollen. What inhibits the secretion of saliva and produced the dry mouth ?

Answer 24

Sympathetic stimulation

Question 25

What is the function of the IgA complex released into the saliva ?

Answer 25

Defense against specific pathogens in the oral cavity