title: Overview of Human Salivary Glands: Highlights of Morphology and Developing Processes.
abstract: Salivary glands are essential organs that produce and secrete saliva to the oral cavity. During gland morphogenesis, many developmental processes involve a series of coordinated movements and reciprocal interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme that generate the ductal system and the secretory units. Recent studies have shown new findings about salivary gland development, particularly regarding lumen formation and expansion, with the involvement of apoptosis and cell polarization, respectively. Moreover, it has been observed that human minor salivary glands start forming earlier than previously published and that distinct apoptotic mediators can trigger duct lumen opening in humans. This review summarizes updated morphological and cellular features of human salivary glands and also explores new aspects of the human developmental process. Anat Rec, 300:1180-1188, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tathyane Harumi Nakajima
authors.initials: THN
authors.lastname: Teshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milena Monteiro
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcello Menta Simonsen
authors.initials: MMS
authors.lastname: Nico
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Vanessa
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lourenco
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: human salivary glands; lumen formation; morphogenesis; morphology