Salivary Glands Flashcards
When should you suspect a salivary gland disorder?
- when there is localization of swelling, ulceration, pain or sensitivity to a salivary gland bearing region
- disruption of salivary gland function
What are the two major types of glands?
Exocrine and endocrine
Describe the types of exocrine glands.
Holocrine - whole gland breaks down to create secretion (ex. ear wax)
Apocrine - bits of cell shed off
Merocrine - cells excreted by exocytosis from secretory cells into ducts
What are the characteristics of salivary glands?
- merocrine
- tubuloalveolar shaped secretion unit
- compound branching system
- cell types include: mucous, serous, myoepithelium
Name the three major salivary glands and the ducts they drain through.
- Parotid gland: Stensen’s duct
- Sublingual gland: Bartholin’s duct
- submandibular gland: Wharton’s duct
Name some minor salivary glands and their locations.
- Mucous and serous glands of lateral ventral tongue
- Von Ebner’s glands - glands around circumvallate papillae
- mucous and mucoserous glands of cheek and lip
- mucous and mucoserous glands of posterior lateral hard palate, soft palate and uvula
Where will you not find glands?
- Tongue dorsum
- Anterior hard palate
- Gingiva
What is sialadenitis?
- inflammation of a salivary gland, may be chronic or acute
- may be caused by microbial factors, obstructions, decreased secretion, change in salivary composition, radiation, idiopathic
What is a sialolith?
Salivary gland stone
What is sialadenosis?
- Non-inflammatory, non-neoplastic englargement of the salivary glands
- usually bilateral, with parotid involvement
- asymptomatic
What is a common cause of sialdenosis?
- caused by hypertrophy of acinic cells or infiltrate of fat cells into gland
What is sialdenosis usually associated with?
a systemic disorder:
- alcoholism, malnutrition
- bulimia, anorexia nervosa
- hormonal disorders (esp. diabetes)
- drug reactions
What is a benign lymphoepithelial lesion?
- a swelling caused by an autoimmune process in which the acini are replaced with lymphocytic infiltrate
- usually there are persisting epithelial island
- presents as diffuse or discrete, bilateral or unilateral
Benign lymphoepithelial lesions have an association with the development of what?
Lymphoma or anaplastic carcinoma - in inuit
Differentiate between primary and secondary Sjorgen’s syndrome.
Primary: dry eyes and dry mouth
Secondary, Dry eyes and dry mouth assocaited with an autoimmune connective tissue disease (usually rheumatoid arthritis)
Is Sjorgen’s more likely to affect men or women?
Women (middle-aged)
Involvement of minor mucous glands in Sjorgen’s can lead to what?
Epistaxis, otitis media, bronchitis and pneumonia
Describe some oral complications associated with Sjorgen’s syndrome.
- diffuse salivary gland enlargement (~50% of patients)
- xerostomia
- dental and periodontal problems
- denture problems
- susceptibility to infections
- angular cheilitis
How does sialography work in the diagnosis of Sjorgen’s?
- After injection of contrast medium into the gland, a radiograph is taken. A “cherry blossom” appearance of the medium is indicative of Sjorgen’s.
What antibodies are characteristic of Sjorgen’s in serology testing for diagnosis?
- rheumatoid factor
- antinuclear antibodies
- anti-SS-A (Ro antigen) and anti-SS-B (La antigen) show the strongest correlation
A lump usually found on the posterior palate caused by excess glandular tissue which histologically appears as normal is indicative of what condition?
Hyperplasia of mucous salivary glands
This condition appears as a cratered ulcer, usually presenting in the posterior palate, which usually resolves in 5-6 weeks. What is it?
Necrotizing sialometaplasia - often misinterpreted of squamous cell carcinom
Describe the two types of mucoceles.
Mucous extravasation cyst - a submucousal swelling which is caused by disruption of the duct
Mucous retention cyst (Salivary duct cyst) - a submucousal swelling which is caused by obstruction of the duct
What is a ranula?
- a blue pigmented swelling, mucous extravasation cyst in the floor if the mouth
