A LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE PAROTID GLAND IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS OF THE ALBINO RAT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine. Ain Shams University

2 Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine. Ain Shams Universi

Abstract

Major salivary glands are characterized by the presence of numerous excretory units that consist of acini and a peculiar duct system. The excretion of saliva is assisted by the myoepithelial cells which play an important role in the morphology of several kinds of salivary gland tumors (MartinezMadringal and Micheau, 1989). Although the rat salivary glands are deficient
in acini at birth, acinar cells proliferate rapidly during the early postnatal period (Klein, 1982).

Keywords