Serous demilune
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| Serous demilune | |
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| Section of submaxillary gland of kitten. Duct semidiagrammatic. (Demilune labeled at center bottom.) | |
| Gray's | subject #242 1136 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | c_61/12265408 |
A serous demilune is a a cap in the shape of a half-moon (hence the name, "demilune") on some salivary glands.
The serous demilune is an artifact from traditional methods of preparing samples. Samples are traditionally preserved and fixed in formaldehyde. When samples were preserved by quick-freezing in liquid nitrogen and then fixed with osmium tetraoxide in acetone, no demilunes are found. Examination showed that the serous cells and mucosal cells were aligned in the acinus. The traditional preparation caused serous cells to swell during fixation, and they popped out of their alignment. After sectioning the cells resembled the common demilune shape, and were so named. [1]
When the gland has this demilunar structure, it produces both serous and mucous secretions, and is thus classified as "mixed".
[edit] External links
- Dictionary at eMedicine serous+demilune
- Histology at USC gi/c_78
- Histology at OU 13_05 - "Trachea"
- Physiology at MCG 6/6ch4/s6ch4_4
- Slide at cytochemistry.net
- MedEd at Loyola Histo/HistoImages/hl9-21.jpg
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ross, Michael (2003). Histology: A Text and Atlas. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 434-474. ISBN 0781751241.
mechanism (Merocrine, Apocrine, Holocrine) shape (Tubular gland, Alveolar gland) secretion (Serous glands, Mucous glands, Serous demilune)
Ducts: Interlobar duct, Interlobular duct, Intralobular duct (Striated duct, Intercalated duct), Acinus
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