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Parotid, Submandibular, and Subesophageal Gland

Parotid

  • A: Parotid glands are made up of serous acini that are compound multicellular alveolar exocrine gland

    B: Salivary duct that is surrounded by dense connective tissue
  • A: Serous acini

    B: Parotid gland duct
  • A: Serous acini of the parotid gland

Submandibular

  • A: Mucous acini. This portion of the submandibular gland is identified by the light color and also by the many cells that make up the alveolar part of the acini. Don't confuse this with adipose which is much larger and is unicellular.

    B: Serous acini. This part of the gland takes the stain up better so it will usually be darker in color
  • A: Mucous acini

    B: Serous acini

    C: Demilune. In these demilunes you can see the two types of cells making up the two types of acini. The serous is arranged in a half moon shape.
  • A: Mucous acini stain lighter than the serous and they have visible portions of mucous within each cell.

    B: Serous acini. You can see the serous fluid within with small little packets of granules upon a closer look.

    C: Demilune with half being serous and the other half being mucous acini.

Subesophageal

  • A: Stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus

    B: Muscularis mucosa

    C: The subesophageal gland is a compound multicellular tubular alveolar exocrine gland

    D: Submucosa

    E: Muscularis externa has two layers of muscle
  • A: Subesophageal gland

    B: Muscularis mucosa is a layer of smooth muscle just beneath the epithelium
  • A: Subesophageal gland