MUCOUS TUBULE – 3
Detail of a sublingual salivary gland, formed by numerous mucous tubules.
Most of the figure is occupied by a twisted and branched mucous tubule. After moving the mouse or clicking, the secretory cells that form this tubule become highlighted in light green and the tubular lumen in pink.
Portions of neighboring mucous tubules appear highlighted in blue and the connective tissue that surrounds these glands appears in red.
Note the secretory product in the wide lumen of the large tubule.
Secretory cells
The cells of the tubule are columnar or pyramidal. Three secretory cells become highlighted in blue in the lower figure after moving the mouse or clicking.
The cytoplasm of these cells is slightly basophilic (bluish), due to the presence of many acidic groups in the molecules of its secretion accumulated in the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm appears somewhat vacuolated and heterogeneous (i.e., it is not very “smooth”).
The nuclei of the secretory cells are elongated and appear to be “squeezed” against the base of the cell.They contain mainly condensed chromatin, and stain heavily with hematoxylin. Some of the cell nuclei turn green when using the mouse or clicking.
No conducting portion (excretory duct) of these glands is seen in this figure.
Most of the figure is occupied by a twisted and branched mucous tubule. After moving the mouse or clicking, the secretory cells that form this tubule become highlighted in light green and the tubular lumen in pink.
Portions of neighboring mucous tubules appear highlighted in blue and the connective tissue that surrounds these glands appears in red.
Note the secretory product in the wide lumen of the large tubule.
Secretory cells
The cells of the tubule are columnar or pyramidal. Three secretory cells become highlighted in blue in the lower figure after moving the mouse or clicking.
The cytoplasm of these cells is slightly basophilic (bluish), due to the presence of many acidic groups in the molecules of its secretion accumulated in the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm appears somewhat vacuolated and heterogeneous (i.e., it is not very “smooth”).
The nuclei of the secretory cells are elongated and appear to be “squeezed” against the base of the cell.They contain mainly condensed chromatin, and stain heavily with hematoxylin. Some of the cell nuclei turn green when using the mouse or clicking.
No conducting portion (excretory duct) of these glands is seen in this figure.
Sublingual salivary gland. Staining: hematoxylin and eosin. Small magnification.
