Page 528 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

Serous glands have well-developed intercalated ducts and striated ducts in

contrast to mucous glands that exhibit poorly developed intercalated ducts and
striated ducts.

Excretory Intralobular Ducts

Striated ducts join to form larger intralobular ducts of gradually increasing
size, surrounded by increasing layers of connective tissue.

Interlobular and Interlobar Ducts

Intralobular ducts join to form the larger interlobular ducts and interlobar
ducts. The terminal portion of these large ducts conveys saliva from salivary
glands to the oral cavity and constitutes the main ducts of each salivary gland.
As the interlobular and interlobar excretory ducts increase in size, the lining
epithelium may be lined with either stratified low cuboidal or stratified columnar

cells (see Fig. 13.17).

Supplemental micrographic images are available at
www.thePoint.com/Eroschenko13e under Digestive System Part I: Oral
Cavity.

FIGURE 13.18 | Parotid Salivary Gland

The parotid salivary gland is a large serous gland classified as a compound

tubuloacinar gland. This illustration depicts a section of the parotid gland at a
lower magnification, with details of specific structures represented at a higher
magnification in separate boxes below.

The parotid gland is surrounded by a capsule from which arise numerous
interlobular connective tissue septa (6) that subdivide the gland into lobes and

lobules. Located in the connective tissue septa (6) are arteriole (9), venule (1),
and interlobular excretory ducts (2, 13, IV).

Each salivary gland lobule contains pyramid-shaped secretory cells arranged
around a lumen forming the serous acini (5, 8, I). The spherical nuclei of the

serous cells (I) are located at the base of the slightly basophilic cytoplasm. In
certain sections, the lumen in serous acini (5, 8, I) is not always visible. At a
higher magnification, small secretory granules (I) are visible in the apices of

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