Sublingual Gland - Anatomy & Physiology

ALIMENTARY SYSTEM MAJOR SALIVARY GLANDS

Sublingual Salivary Gland

• Mixed gland- serous and mucous secretion

• Merocrine secretion

• Smaller than parotid gland

• Consists of monostomatic compact part drained by a single duct. Located over rostral mandibluar gland in dog. Duct runs with mandibluar gland duct and opens at the sublingual caruncle.

• Consists of polystomatic diffuse part drained by numerous smaller ducts. Thin strip below mucosa of the floor of oral cavity and duct opens beside the frenulum.

Salivary Glands Labelled (Dog) - Copyright C.Clarkson and T.F.Fletcher University of Minnesota

Histology

• Tubulo-acinar gland

• Mucous cells (stain lighter)

• Serous demilunes (stain darker)

• Demilunes secrete into lumen by canaliculi between mucous cells

Species Differences

Ruminant and Pig

• More mucous than serous secretion

Equine

• Diffuse part is the only part of the sublingual salivary gland present