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Anatomy & Cell Biology 3309/9500

Martin Sandig

TONGUE, SALIVARY GLANDS


entrance to the digestive system testing of food to see if it is suitable for consumption preparation of food for swallowing: by chewing, adding mucus and adding digestive enzymes

Tongue composed chiefly of skeletal muscle in interlacing bundles in 3 planes covered by a mucous membrane which is thin and smooth on the underside of the tongue many irregularities on dorsal side - undergo specific alterations in some diseases a v-shaped groove, the sulcus terminalis, occurs on the dorsal surface divides the tongue into anterior (2/3 - oral part) and posterior (1/3 - pharyngeal part) regions the mucous membrane on the oral part is covered by little projections called papillae three kinds of papillae occur in the human 1. 2. 3. 4. Filiform Papillae arranged in rows on each side of the midline parallel to the sulcus terminalis high, narrow conical structures with epithelial caps - threadlike during illness, normal shedding of epithelial cells delayed - coated tongue Fungiform Papillae scattered singly among filiform papillae, numerous at tip of tongue narrow at base, expanded top - resemble a fungus appear red because not keratinized and blood vessels pass close to surface taste buds are often present on the upper surface Foliate Papillae appear in rows separated by clefts flattened at the top usually 3 secondary connective tissue papillae taste buds on lateral surface Circumvallate Papillae 7 to 14 are distributed along the sulcus terminalis each is surrounded by a deep circular furrow many taste buds occur on both surfaces of the furrow glands of von Ebner (serous type) empty into the furrow

Taste Buds in circumvallate,fungiform, and foliate papillae, but even in palate and epiglottis appear as oval bodies in the epithelium a small opening called the taste pore is present at the surface 3 types of cells present: - basal cells at the lower periphery are stem cells giving rise to all other cells - supporting immature taste receptor cells lie at periphery - central mature taste receptor cells with microvilli and synapses with afferent nerves taste buds all have similar structure but differ in their receptive properties (sweet, bitter, etc)

Anatomy & Cell Biology 3309/9500

Martin Sandig

Tonsils Lingual tonsils seen as bulges on root of tongue (no papillae present on root of tongue) the bulges represent lymphatic nodules and diffuse lymphoid tissue epithelium extends into lymphatic tissue to form crypts crypts contain debris formed from lymphocytes and desquamated epithelial cells mucous glands wash out crypts - ducts from glands open into bottom of crypts Palatine tonsils two prominent ovoid accumulations of lymphatic tissue in lamina propria between glossopalatine and pharyngopalatine arches ct capsule, from which septa pass inwards epithelium invaginates to form primary and secondary crypts ducts of glands open on surface, not in crypts - therefore prone to infection

Salivary Glands salivary glands are merocrine and compound tubuloalveolar many small (minor) salivary glands secrete continuously into the oral cavity they are named according to their location - lingual, labial, buccal, palatine in addition there are three pairs of large (major) salivary glands that secrete intermittently parotid glands submandibular (submaxillary) glands sublingual glands the major salivary glands secrete only under appropriate stimuli (e.g. chemical, olfactory) the salivary glands collectively are responsible for producing saliva: - saliva is a colourless liquid - contains water, mucin, protein, ions, digestive enzymes - functions: lubrication, washing the mouth, moistening the food, some digestion three kinds of secretory units: serous, mucous, mixed: 1. 2. 3. Serous secretory units the units are pie-shaped with triangular cells and a small lumen the nuclei are round and close to the base of the cells intercellular canaliculi are present between the cells the cytoplasm is basophilic basally (RNA), eosinophlic apically (zymogen) zymogen represents inactive enzyme precursor the serous product is a watery liquid containing salts, protein, enzymes Mucous secretory units the nuclei are flattened against the base of the cells which stain lightly no intercellular canaliculi are present the lumen is larger than in serous units and the cytoplasm is foamy mucous droplets appear in the apex of the cells and in the lumen Mixed secretory units part mucous and part serous mucous cells are located closer to the ducts serous cells form serous demilunes surrounding the mucous cells

Anatomy & Cell Biology 3309/9500 Myoepithelial cells present in both mucous and serous secretory units lie between the glandular cells and the basement membrane send long processes around the secretory cells epithelial in origin but resemble smooth muscle (contain myofilaments) contractile - thereby facilitate movement of secretion into ducts

Martin Sandig

Ducts (1) intercalated ducts (intralobular) - smallest ducts (2) striated ducts (intralobular) - columnar cells with basal striations - striations are due to basal invaginations of plasmalemma with mitochondria between - characteristic of cells undergoing rapid transport of water & ions as in kidney (3) large ducts (interlobular, interlobar) - with increasing size epithelium passes from columnar to pseudostratified to stratified Parotid gland - largest salivary gland - situated below and anterior to the ear - pure serous in type - specifically affected in mumps, frequent site of tumour Submandibular (submaxillary) gland - located in the floor of the mouth and onto the side of the neck - the majority of the alveoli are serous, some mixed units present Sublingual gland - a collection of glands in the floor of the mouth, each with its own duct - the majority of the alveoli are mucous, some mixed units are present

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