Anatomy and histology of the major salivary glands in one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

This study was carried out to investigate anatomy and histology of major salivary glands of 25 one-humped adult camels. The parotid salivary gland was the largest in camel. It was situated at the base of ear. The colour of the gland was dark red and the mean weight about 145 gm. It was purely serous and a compound tubulo-alveolar gland. The intercalated and striated ducts were located within the lobule and lined by low cuboidal and simple columnar epithelium, respectively. The interlobular and main excretory ducts were lined by stratified columnar epithelium that changed to stratified squamous epithelium where the main parotid duct opens into the oral cavity. The mandibular salivary gland was oval in camel and placed ventral to the oarotid salivary gland. It's colour was light brown and weight about 48 gm. It was a compound tubulo-acinar gland composed of both mucous and serous acini. The duct system was like that of the parotid salivary gland. The sublingual salivary gland was thin and long that lied under the mucosa of the tongue. It's colour was light yellow. It was a compound acinar gland with predominant mucous acini. The intercalated ducts were not prominent. The striated and interlobular ducts were lined by low cuboidal and simple columnar epithelium, respectively. The epithelium lining of the main excretory ducts changed from stratified cuboidal to stratified squamous.