Examination of the acini at this higher magnification also reveals the serous demilunes (SD). Note how they form a caplike addition to the mucous end pieces. The cytologic appearance of the mucous cells (MC) and serous cells is essentially the same as that described for the submandibular gland. The area selected for this higher magnification also reveals isolated cell clusters that bear some resemblance to serous acini. It is likely, however, that these cells are actually mucous cells that either have been cut in a plane parallel to their base and do not include the mucinogen-containing portions of the cell or are in a state of activity in which, after depletion of their granules, the production of new mucinogen granules does not yet suffice to give the characteristic “empty” mucous cell appearance.
An additional important feature of the connective tissue stroma is the presence of numerous lymphocytes and plasma cells. Some of the plasma cells are indicated by the arrows. The plasma cells are associated with the production of salivary IgA and are also present in the other salivary glands.
KEY MA, mucous acinus MC, mucous cells ID, intercalated duct InD, intralobular duct SD, serous demilune arrowhead, mucous acinus joining intercalated duct arrows, plasma cells
Digestive System II: Esophagus and Gastrointestinal Tract
OVERVIEW OF THE ESOPHAGUS AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT / 569 Mucosa / 569 Submucosa / 571 Muscularis Externa / 571 Serosa and Adventitia / 571 ESOPHAGUS / 572 STOMACH / 574 Gastric Mucosa / 574 Fundic Glands of the Gastric Mucosa / 577 Cardiac Glands of the Gastric Mucosa / 583 Pyloric Glands of the Gastric Mucosa / 583 Epithelial Cell Renewal in the Stomach / 584 Lamina Propria and Muscularis Mucosae / 584 Gastric Submucosa / 585 Gastric Muscularis Externa / 585 Gastric Serosa / 586 SMALL INTESTINE / 586 Submucosa / 596 Muscularis Externa / 597 Serosa / 597 Epithelial Cell Renewal in the Small Intestine / 597 LARGE INTESTINE / 597 Mucosa / 599 Epithelial Cell Renewal in the Large Intestine / 600 Lamina Propria / 600 Muscularis Externa / 601 Submucosa and Serosa / 601 Cecum and Appendix / 601 Rectum and Anal Canal / 603 Folder 17.1 Clinical Correlation: Pernicious Anemia and Peptic Ulcer Disease / 578 Folder 17.2 Clinical Correlation: Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / 580 Folder 17.3 Functional Considerations: The Gastrointestinal Endocrine System / 581 Folder 17.4 Functional Considerations: Digestive and Absorptive Functions of Enterocytes / 587 Folder 17.5 Functional Considerations: Immune Functions of the Alimentary Canal / 595 Folder 17.6 Clinical Correlation: The Pattern of Lymph Vessel Distribution and Diseases of the Large Intestine / 602  Serosa, a serous membrane consisting of a simple squa-GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT mous epithelium, the mesothelium, and a small amount of