Mucous glands, also known as muciparous glands, are found in several different parts of the body, and they typically
stain
A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. They are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two dissimilar materials. Accidental staining may make materials app ...
lighter than
serous glands during standard
histological
Histology,
also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology that studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissue (biology), tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at large ...
preparation. Most are multicellular, but
goblet cell
Goblet cells are simple columnar epithelial cells that secrete gel-forming mucins, like mucin 2 in the lower gastrointestinal tract, and mucin 5AC in the respiratory tract. The goblet cells mainly use the merocrine method of secretion, secre ...
s are single-celled glands.
Mucous salivary glands
The mucous salivary glands are similar in structure to the
buccal and
labial glands.
They are found especially at the back part behind the
vallate papillae, but are also present at the apex and marginal parts.
In this connection, the
anterior lingual glands require special notice.
They are situated on the under surface of the
apex of the tongue, one on either side of the
frenulum, where they are covered by a
fascicle of muscular fibers derived from the
styloglossus and
inferior longitudinal muscles. They produce a
glycoprotein,
mucin
Mucins () are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins ( glycoconjugates) produced by epithelial tissues in most animals. Mucins' key characteristic is their ability to form gels; therefore they are a key component in ...
that absorbs water to form a sticky secretion called mucus.
They are from 12 to 25 mm. long, and about 8 mm. broad, and each opens by three or four ducts on the under surface of the apex.
The
Weber's glands are an example of muciparous glands located along the tongue.
See also
*
Mucus
Mucus (, ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both Serous fluid, serous and muc ...
*
Gland
A gland is a Cell (biology), cell or an Organ (biology), organ in an animal's body that produces and secretes different substances that the organism needs, either into the bloodstream or into a body cavity or outer surface. A gland may also funct ...
*
Exocrine gland
*
Weber's glands
References
External links
* - "Lingual glands"
Overview at siumed.edu
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Glands