Oral Cavity 10

Shown here at high magnification is a region of a thin plastic section of human submandibular salivary gland. Several serous acini (S) are seen, with well-defined apical secretory granules. There are also several clusters of mucous acinar cells (M), one of which has a cap (demilune) of serous cells (*). Portions of two striated ducts (SD) are present, and the labels have been positioned over basal portions of the epithelial cells whose cytoplasmic "ribboning" is obvious, reflecting the presence of numerous mitochondria and infoldings of the plasma membranes. Two plasma cells (P) are present in the stromal connective tissue: what is their function here?

Slide N-9, field N29/N30 of finder slide B, 40X objective