Parotid Gland Comparative Microscopic Anatomy

Parotid Gland Comparative Microscopic Anatomy

Describe the histological features of the parotid gland in brief.
Answer.

It is a compound tubuloalveolar gland and presents the following histological features.

Connective tissue:

The connective tissue (fibrous) septa divide the gland into lobes and lobules.

Acini:

• Presence of a large number of serous acini.
• Acini are round and show biphasic stain with H&E stain, basophilic in basal part and eosinophilic in apical parts. They have very small lumen.
• Acini are lined by pyramidal cells with round nuclei placed near the centre.

Ducts:

• Intercalated ducts are lined by simple squamous epithelium.
• Striated ducts are lined by simple columnar epithelium with basal striations. They are stained dark with eosin.
• Interlobular ducts are present in connective tissue septa between the lobules and are lined by stratified cuboidal/low columnar epithelium.