TONGUE AND SALIVARY GLANDS

Tongue
mass of striated
muscle covered by a
mucous membrane
muscle fibers cross
one another in three
planes maintains
mobility for
functioning
grouped in bundles
separated by
connective tissue
Papillae
on the anterior portion
elevations of the mucous membrane that assume various forms
and functions
4 types:
Filiform
Fungiform
Foliate
Circumvallate
Filiform papillae
Numerous
Elongated, conical
shape, slightly curved
Keratinized
2-3mm
Epithelium lacks taste
buds
Role is primarily
mechanical
facilitates food
movement
 Fungiform papillae
Less numerous
Lightly keratinized
Mushroom shaped with
connective tissue cores
Narrow base
0.5-1mm diameter
Higher than filiform
Scattrered taste buds on
their upper surface
Irregularly interspersed
among the filiform papillae
Foliate papillae
Poorly developed in
adults
Consists of parallel
ridges and furrows on
the sides of the
tongue
With taste buds
Only occurs in dogs
Circumvallate papillae
Least numerous
Largest lingual papillae
Located near the sulcus
Have over half the taste buds on the human tongue
250 taste buds/ papilla
Diameter: 1-3mm
7-12 (junquiera) or 6-14(bloom and fawcett)
papillae normally form a V-shaped line just before
the terminal sulcus
*prominent deep groove
Ducts from serous salivary (von Ebner) glands
empty into the deep groove
Moat-like arrangement provides a continuous flow
of fluid over the taste buds abundant on the sides
of these papillae
Glands also secrete lipase
Prevents the formation of a hydrophobic film over the
taste bud
SALIVARY GLANDS
SALIVARY GLANDS
Major 3 (submandibular, sublingual, parotid) major ducts:
(Stensens, Whartonss)
Minor
Scattered in Mucosa
Open directly or Short duct
Short branching tubules line with mucous cells(majority)
 SALIVARY GLANDS
parotid glands produce a serous, watery secretion
submaxillary (mandibular) glands produce a mixed serous
and mucous secretion
sublingual glands secrete a saliva that is predominantly
mucous in character

The basis for different glands secreting saliva of

differing composition can be seen by examining salivary
glands histologically. Two basic types of acinar epithelial
cells exist:
serous cells, which secrete a watery fluid,
essentially devoid of mucus
mucous cells, which produce a very mucus-rich
secretion
Acini in the parotid glands are almost exclusively of
the serous type, while those in the sublingual glands
are predominantly mucus cells. In the submaxillary
glands, it is common to observe acini composed of
both serous and mucus epithelial cells.
MOCK PRACTICALS
 Identify the type
of salivary gland
Type of acinar
cells that are
present in this
gland
 Parotid gland
Serous acinar
 Identify the type of
salivary gland
Type of acinar cells
that are present in
this gland
 Submandibular
Both serous and
mucous acinar
 Identify the type of
salivary gland
Type of acinar cells
that are present in this
gland
 Sublingual gland
Mucous acinar
 Identify the type of
papillae pointed by
the red arrow
Identify the type of
papillae pointed by
the yellow arrow
 Filiform papillae
Fungiform papillae