ARRANGEMENT IN CELLS IN THE

TERMINAL SECRETORY UNITS

• Serous cells are clustered
• Junctions serve to hold the cells together
– Tight junction (zonula occludens)
– Intermediate junction (zonula adherens)
– Desmosomes ( maculae adheerens)
• Intercellular Canaliculi
• central lumen
• DEMILUNES
• Myoepithelial cells are not usually present along
the striated ducts.
DUCTS
 INTERCALATED DUCTS

PHOTO SOURCE: googleimages.intercalateducts

PHOTO SOURCE: M.VIJAYALAKSHMI (Slideshare)
PHOTO SOURCE: TENCATE’S ORAL HISTOLOGY
 INTERCALATED DUCTS
• Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
• Myoepithelial cell bodies
• Located along the BASAL SURFACE OF THE DUCT
• The diameter is SMALL
• Nucleus are located in the Center
• Contains RER (rough endoplasmic reticulum and small golgi
complex)
• Functions:
-It contributes Macromolar components (Lysozyme and Lactoferrin)
-Prominent in salivary glands having a watery secretion (parotid)
 STRIATED DUCTS

PHOTO SOURCE: TENCATE’S ORAL HISTOLOGY

PHOTO SOURCE: M.VIJAYALAKSHMI (Slideshare)
PHOTO SOURCE: M.VIJAYALAKSHMI (Slideshare)
 STRIATED DUCTS
• Largest portion of the duct system
• Tall columnar epithelial cells
• Large spherical
• centrally placed nuclei
• Cytoplasm is abundant and eosinophilic
• Few short RER cisternae and Small golgi apparatus

• Functions:
- Reabsorption and secretion of electrolytes
- Modification of the primary saliva by reabsorption and secretion
- Contains granules Kallikrein (an enzyme found in saliva)
- Lysosomes and Peroxisomes
EXCRETORY DUCTS
 EXCRETORY DUCTS
• Pseudostratified Epithelium
• Tall Columnar cells
• Larger in diameter than striated ducts
• The structure of columnar cells is similar to that of the striated
duct cells
• Function:
- The presence of Nerve endings at the basal portion of the
cells
- Lymphocytes and Macrophages
 Lining Size/ Location FUNCTION
Epithelium Diameter of
Nucleus

• It contributes Macromolar components

INTERCALATE Simple SMALL Center (Lysozyme and Lactoferrin)
D DUCT Cuboidal • Prominent in salivary glands having a
Epithelium watery secretion (parotid)

• Reabsorption and secretion of

STRIATED Columnar LARGE CENTER electrolytes
DUCT Epithelium SPHERICAL • Modification of the primary saliva by
reabsorption and secretion
• Contains granules Kallikrein (an
enzyme found in saliva)
• Lysosomes and Peroxisomes

EXCRETORY Pseudostrat LARGER CENTER • The presence of Nerve endings at the

DUCT ified than basal portion of the cells
Epithelium striated • Lymphocytes and Macrophages
 FUNCTIONS OF SALIVARY DUCTS
1. MAIN FUNCTION:
-convey the primary saliva secreted by the terminal
secretory units to the oral cavity.

2. Actively modify, secretion and reabsorption of

electrolytes and proteins.

3.Contains Kallikrein
 REFERENCES
• Ten Cate’s Oral Histology [Nanci, Antonio
PhD.2008]
• Orban’s Oral Histology and Embryology 11th
Ed. [S.N Bhaskar et all.1991]
• Garants Oral Cells and tissues [Philias R.
Garant.2003