Normal·GI·Salivary gland
Submandibular salivary gland — mixed acini + serous demilunes
Stain: H&E·Magnification: 40x·Tissue: Mixed exocrine acini·3 labeled regions
Wikimedia Commons · File:Serous_demilunes_of_submandibular_gland_section.png · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Serous_demilunes_of_submandibular_gland_section.png (CC-licensed)
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Mixed gland: pale mucous acini (mucin-filled cytoplasm) capped by darker serous demilunes (enzymatic secretions). Parotid = mostly serous; sublingual = mostly mucous; submandibular = mixed. Pleomorphic adenoma is most common salivary tumor.
Labeled regions (3)
- 1Mucous acinus
Pale, foamy cytoplasm with basally displaced flattened nuclei. Secretes mucin (lubrication).
- 2Serous demilune
Dark crescent of serous cells "capping" mucous acini. Secretes lysozyme + α-amylase + IgA.
- 3Striated duct
Cuboidal/columnar epithelium with basal striations (mitochondria-rich); modifies saliva by ion exchange.
