SALIVARY GLANDS

Oral Histology
Dent 205
Summer semester
2005/2006
 Salivary Glands
 Characteristics
 Compound – more than one tubule entering the main duct
 Tubuloacinar – morphology of secreting cells
 Merocrine – only secretion of the cell is released
 Exocrine – secretion onto a free surface
 Physiology
 Stimulants-taste and mastication
 Autonomic nervous system – Afferent nerves
 Salivary centre
 Autonomic nervous system – Efferent nerves
 Secretion
 Classification of Salivary Glands
 Size
 Major
 Parotid
 Submandibular
 Sublingual
 Minor: scattered throughout the oral
mucosa
 Labial, buccal, palatoglossal, palatal, and
lingual mucosae
 Not present in gingivae and dorsum of
anterior 2/3 of the tongue
 Secretion
 Mucous
 Serous
 Mixed
 Saliva
 Constituents
 Water-99%
 Organic
 Proteins
 Glycoproteins

 Enzymes

 Inorganic
 Minerals
 Saliva
 Functions
 Lubrication
 Mucin
 Physical protection of oral mucosa
 Taste
 Antibacterial and immunity
 Lysozyme
 IgA – produced by plasma cells
 Digestion
 Amylase
 Buffering
 Minerals
 Helps in maintaining the integrity of enamel
 Wound healing and upper GI mucosal integrity
 Epidermal Growth Factor – produced and secreted by the submandibular salivary glands
 Blood coagulation
 Kallikrein
 Salivary Glands
 Main tissue elements
 Glandular secretory tissue
 Parenchyma
 Ectodermal
 Acini and duct epithelium
 Supporting Connective tissue
 Stroma
 Mesodermal
 Macro-to-microscopic levels
 Gland
 Lobe
 Lobule
 Secretory units – Acini
The Secretory Units
- ACINI
 A grape-like cluster of
parenchymal cells around a
lumen
 Types
 Serous
 Mucous
 Mixed
 Serous demilunes capping
mucous cells
 Myoepithelial cells around the
acini
 Contactile cells with several
processes
 Synonyms: basket cells
 The Duct System
 Intra-lobular
 Acinus lumen
 Intercalated ducts

 Striated duct

* In intra-lobular system,
composition is affected
 Plasma cells in stroma
 Electrolytes
 Epidermal GF and Kallikrein
 Inter-lobular
 Collecting ducts
*The inter-lobular system is inert,
does not affect the composition
 Stroma
 Connective tissue
 Mesenchymal origin
 Macro-to-microscopic levels
 Capsular
 Inter-lobar
 Inter-lobular
 Inter-acinous
 Capsular, inter-lobar, and inter-
lobular septa contain blood vessels
and nerves
 Constituents
 Collagen fibers
 Fibroblasts
 Fat cells
 With age, there is a decrease in
parenchyma and an increase in
stroma (esp. far cells)
 Synthesis of Saliva
 Active secretory process
 Not a blood ultra-filtrate
 Serous cells
 Watery proteinaceous fluid contains amylase
 Mucous cells
 Proteins linked to a greater amount of carbohyrates
 Plasma cells
 IgA
 Secretion of Saliva
 Throughout the day
 Low level in general
 Periodic large addition from major glands
 Average flow rate (90% from Major SG)
 0.3 ml/min
 500-700 ml/day
 Contribution of gingival fluids
 Secretion
 Spontaneous
 Small amounts from sublingual and minor SGs
 Stimulated (nerve-mediated)
 The bulk of saliva from all glands
 Parotid and Submandibular SGs do not secret spontaneously
 Anaesthesia ceases secretion as it is nerve-mediated
 Serous cells
 Light Microscopy
 Basophilic because of Rough
Endoplasmic Reticulum
 Characteristic granular appearance
with H & E
 Round prominent nuclei located at the
basal third of the cell
 Ultra-structure
 Wedge-shaped outline
 Basal lamina separates from stroma
 Luminal part contains zymogen
granules
 Microvilli
 Desmosomes, gap and tight junctions
 Mucous cells
 Appear pale in H & E stains
 Basally-compressed nuclei
 Acini may be surrounded
by crescent-shaped serous
demilunes
 Debate whether demilunes
are connected with the
lumen
 Mucin granules
Acinus lumen

Serous demilunes

Mucous cells
 Myoepithelial cells
 Lie between basal lamina and basal
membranes of acinar cells and ICD
 Around acinar cells
 Dendritic
 Long tapering processes
 Around ICD
 Longitudinal
 Few short processes
 Contracttion
 Parasympathetic
 Sympathetic
 Ultra-structure
 Flattened nucleus
 Desmosomes with parenchymal cells
 Gap junctions and hemidesmosomes with
basal lamina
 Intercalated ducts
 Drainage from several acini
 Compressed between the acini
 Cuboidal epithelial cells
 Prominent nuclei
 In Parotid, they are long,
narrow, and branching
 Striated ducts
 Larger and longer than ICD
 Simple columnar epithelium
 Cells have large centrally-located nuclei
 Luminal surfaces have microvilli
 Basal surfaces separated from
connective tissue by basal lamina
 Striation (in light microscopy)
corresponds to multiple infoldings of
the basal membrane of the cells
 Desmosomes
 Electrolyte re-absorption (active) and
secretion
 Secretion of Epidermal GF and
Kallikrein
 Collecting ducts
 Bi-layered epithelium (lacks
striation)
 Columnar epithelial layer
 Basal layer
 As it enlarges, it gets a
connective tissue adventitia
 Terminated as stratified
epithelium to merge with the
oral mucosa
 Parotid gland
 The largest
 Serous Acini
 Adult PG vs. Infant’s PG
 Fat cells vs. age
 Submandibular
gland

 2nd largest
 Mixed serous-
mucous secretion
(7:3)
 Intercalated ducts
are short and
difficult to locate
 Striated ducts are
long and obvious
 Sublingual glands
 2 segments all empty
to the sublingual fold
 Major sublingual gland
 8 - 30 mixed minor SGs
 Mixed gland, mucous
outnumber serous cells
 Most of the serous
cells are in demilunes
 Lacking striated ducts
 Minor Salivary glands
 Primarily mucous
 Labial, buccal, palatal, palatoglossal, and
lingual
 Lingual glands
 Anterior glands
 Embedded in muscle near the ventral surface of the
tongue
 Mucous glands
 Posterior glands
 At the root of the tongue
 Mucous glands
 Von Ebner glands
 Serous
 Associated with the Circumvallate papillae
 Clinical Considerations
 Dry Mouth (xerostomia)
 Causes
 Ageing – Parenchymal tissue < Stroma
 Drugs
 Central action on the salivary centre
 Diuretics, sedatives, hypnotics, antihistamines, antihypertensives,
antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticholinergics, and appetite suppressants
 Loss / destruction of salivary tissue
 Radiotherapy
 Autoimmune disorders
 Sjogren’s syndrome – destruction by lymphoid tissue (autoimmune disease)
 Salivary gland surgery
 Endocrine disorders
 Diabetes
 Hyperthyroidism
 Clinical Considerations
 Dry mouth (xerostomia)
 Signs and symptoms
 Dry, red, glossy atrophic mucosa
 Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
 Altered / diminished taste ability
 Dental caries
 Saliva contains re-mineralising minerals

 Periodontal disease
 Candidal infection
 Treatment
 Consider stopping offending medication
 Commercial saliva substitute
 Fluoride Supplementation
 Scrupulous dental care
Clinical considerations
 Obstructive disorders
 Sialolithiasis (salivary calculi)
 80% in submandibular SG
 Mucoceles and cysts
 Minor SGs http://www.fo.usp.br/estomato/patobucal/images/mucocele.jp
g
 Retention of mucous outside the duct
 Ranula
 Submandibular and sublingual SGs
 Inflammatory disorders (Sialadenitis)
 Viral http://www.infocompu.com/adolfo_arthur/images/ranula.jpg

 Mumps
 Bacterial – uncommon
 Suppurative parotitis
 Autoimmune diseases
 Sjogren’s syndrome
 Salivary gland tumours