This slide demonstrates the structure of the parotid.

Clinical case

A middle-age woman consults her doctor because she has difficulty in swallowing dry food, an inability to speak continuously and a burning sensation in her mouth. Physical examination shows a dry, erythematous, sticky oral mucosa and atrophy of the filiform papillae on the dorsum of the tongue. She also complains of dry eyes, with a sandy or gritty feeling under the eyelids. She is diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome (A deficient secretion of the salivary, lacrimal and other glands). How would you classify the parotid gland with respect to its secretory units? In which salivary gland(s) would you expect to find demilunes? Which salivary gland contains predominantly serous secretory units? How would you identify serous and mucous secretory units microscopically? Which specialised cells surround the secretory units? Distinguish histologically between ductus intercalaris and ductus salivalis.

Microscopy

This is a very low magnification of the parotid illustrating the general structure and secretory ducts. Fig 85-002

This is a higher magnification of the secretory units and the intra- and interlobular secretory ducts of the parotid. Fig 85-003

Memorandum
Clinical case	85-002	85-003