Salivary Glands in Human Anatomy MCQ Questions and Answers

1. The largest salivary gland in the human body is:
A) Sublingual gland
B) Submandibular gland
C) Parotid gland
D) Buccal gland
Answer: C) Parotid gland

2. The duct of the parotid gland opens into:
A) Sublingual fold
B) Opposite the upper second molar tooth
C) Floor of mouth
D) Oral vestibule near lower molar
Answer: B) Opposite the upper second molar tooth

3. Stensen’s duct is associated with which gland?
A) Sublingual
B) Parotid
C) Submandibular
D) Lacrimal
Answer: B) Parotid

4. The parotid gland is innervated parasympathetically by:
A) Chorda tympani
B) Glossopharyngeal nerve
C) Facial nerve
D) Vagus nerve
Answer: B) Glossopharyngeal nerve

5. Which gland produces mainly serous secretion?
A) Sublingual
B) Submandibular
C) Minor labial glands
D) Parotid gland
Answer: D) Parotid gland

6. Wharton’s duct is the excretory duct of which gland?
A) Submandibular gland
B) Parotid gland
C) Sublingual gland
D) Lingual gland
Answer: A) Submandibular gland

7. The sublingual gland’s secretion is predominantly:
A) Serous
B) Mucous
C) Mixed, serous dominant
D) Saline
Answer: B) Mucous

8. The parotid gland lies mainly:
A) Superficial to the masseter muscle
B) Deep to the mandible
C) In the sublingual fossa
D) In the posterior triangle
Answer: A) Superficial to the masseter muscle

9. The nerve passing through the parotid gland is:
A) Glossopharyngeal
B) Facial nerve
C) Lingual nerve
D) Hypoglossal nerve
Answer: B) Facial nerve

10. The submandibular duct opens at:
A) Opposite upper second molar
B) Buccal mucosa
C) Sublingual papilla beside the lingual frenulum
D) Posterior pharyngeal wall
Answer: C) Sublingual papilla beside the lingual frenulum

11. Parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular gland are carried by:
A) Glossopharyngeal nerve
B) Auriculotemporal nerve
C) Chorda tympani nerve
D) Hypoglossal nerve
Answer: C) Chorda tympani nerve

12. The duct of the sublingual gland is known as:
A) Stensen’s duct
B) Duct of Rivinus
C) Duct of Wharton
D) Bartholin’s duct
Answer: B) Duct of Rivinus

13. Bartholin’s duct belongs to:
A) Sublingual gland
B) Parotid gland
C) Submandibular gland
D) Palatine gland
Answer: A) Sublingual gland

14. Which muscle divides the parotid gland into superficial and deep parts?
A) Masseter
B) Buccinator
C) Facial nerve branches
D) Retromandibular vein
Answer: C) Facial nerve branches

15. The parotid fascia is derived from:
A) Pretracheal fascia
B) Investing layer of deep cervical fascia
C) Buccopharyngeal fascia
D) Pterygoid fascia
Answer: B) Investing layer of deep cervical fascia

16. Which artery runs within the parotid gland?
A) Facial artery
B) External carotid artery
C) Lingual artery
D) Superior thyroid artery
Answer: B) External carotid artery

17. The sympathetic supply to the parotid gland arises from:
A) Vagus nerve
B) Chorda tympani
C) Superior cervical ganglion
D) Otic ganglion
Answer: C) Superior cervical ganglion

18. Which gland lies in the submandibular triangle?
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Buccal
Answer: B) Submandibular

19. Which structure is NOT related to the deep part of submandibular gland?
A) Mylohyoid muscle
B) Styloglossus muscle
C) Hyoglossus muscle
D) Lingual nerve
Answer: B) Styloglossus muscle

20. The secretions of salivary glands are under control of which part of the nervous system?
A) Somatic
B) Autonomic
C) Spinal
D) Motor cortex
Answer: B) Autonomic

21. The smallest major salivary gland is:
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Buccal
Answer: C) Sublingual

22. The Stensen’s duct crosses which muscle before opening into oral cavity?
A) Masseter muscle
B) Mylohyoid muscle
C) Buccinator muscle
D) Digastric muscle
Answer: A) Masseter muscle

23. The facial nerve divides the parotid gland into:
A) Upper and lower
B) Medial and lateral
C) Superficial and deep
D) Serous and mucous parts
Answer: C) Superficial and deep

24. The main type of acini in submandibular gland are:
A) Pure mucous
B) Mixed, serous dominant
C) Pure serous
D) Mixed, mucous dominant
Answer: B) Mixed, serous dominant

25. The lymph from parotid gland primarily drains into:
A) Submandibular nodes
B) Superficial and deep parotid nodes
C) Submental nodes
D) Retropharyngeal nodes
Answer: B) Superficial and deep parotid nodes

26. Which salivary gland lies partly above and partly below the mylohyoid muscle?
A) Parotid gland
B) Submandibular gland
C) Sublingual gland
D) Buccal gland
Answer: B) Submandibular gland

27. The parotid gland receives its sensory innervation from:
A) Facial nerve
B) Auriculotemporal nerve
C) Chorda tympani
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve directly
Answer: B) Auriculotemporal nerve

28. The secretomotor fibers to parotid gland relay in which ganglion?
A) Submandibular ganglion
B) Pterygopalatine ganglion
C) Otic ganglion
D) Ciliary ganglion
Answer: C) Otic ganglion

29. Which structure pierces the buccinator muscle before opening into the mouth?
A) Wharton’s duct
B) Duct of Rivinus
C) Stensen’s duct
D) Bartholin’s duct
Answer: C) Stensen’s duct

30. Which is a purely serous gland among the following?
A) Sublingual
B) Submandibular
C) Parotid
D) Buccal
Answer: C) Parotid

31. The hilum of submandibular gland is related to which structures?
A) Lingual nerve and duct
B) Facial artery and vein
C) Hypoglossal nerve and lingual artery
D) Masseter and buccinator
Answer: B) Facial artery and vein

32. Which structure passes between the submandibular gland and its duct?
A) Hypoglossal nerve
B) Lingual nerve
C) Glossopharyngeal nerve
D) Facial artery
Answer: B) Lingual nerve

33. The serous demilunes of Gianuzzi are characteristic of:
A) Parotid gland
B) Submandibular gland
C) Pure mucous glands
D) Palatine glands
Answer: B) Submandibular gland

34. The salivary gland that opens into the vestibule of the mouth is:
A) Sublingual
B) Parotid
C) Submandibular
D) Lingual
Answer: B) Parotid

35. The saliva secreted by parotid gland contains high levels of:
A) Mucins
B) Amylase
C) Lipase
D) Lysozyme only
Answer: B) Amylase

36. The gland located in the floor of the mouth, above the mylohyoid, is:
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Buccal
Answer: C) Sublingual

37. The submandibular gland develops embryologically from:
A) Endoderm of nasal cavity
B) Endoderm of oral cavity epithelium
C) Ectoderm of oral vestibule
D) Mesoderm of branchial arch
Answer: B) Endoderm of oral cavity epithelium

38. The parotid duct runs:
A) Downward over the mylohyoid
B) Horizontally across masseter
C) Deep to zygomatic arch
D) Along submandibular fossa
Answer: B) Horizontally across masseter

39. The gland least likely to undergo sialolithiasis (stone formation) is:
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Minor glands
Answer: A) Parotid

40. The minor salivary glands are absent in:
A) Soft palate
B) Lips
C) Tongue
D) Anterior hard palate
Answer: D) Anterior hard palate

41. Parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular gland synapse in:
A) Otic ganglion
B) Pterygopalatine ganglion
C) Submandibular ganglion
D) Geniculate ganglion
Answer: C) Submandibular ganglion

42. The parotid gland lies superficial to which major vessel?
A) Facial artery
B) Retromandibular vein
C) Lingual artery
D) Superior thyroid artery
Answer: B) Retromandibular vein

43. The parotid duct is approximately how long?
A) 2 cm
B) 5 cm
C) 7 cm
D) 1 cm
Answer: B) 5 cm

44. The sublingual gland mainly drains its saliva via:
A) One main duct
B) Several small ducts (ducts of Rivinus)
C) Posterior opening
D) A single duct into submandibular gland
Answer: B) Several small ducts (ducts of Rivinus)

45. The mylohyoid muscle forms a boundary between:
A) Tongue and parotid
B) Parotid and masseter
C) Submandibular and sublingual glands
D) Buccal and parotid regions
Answer: C) Submandibular and sublingual glands

46. Which gland contributes the maximum volume of resting saliva?
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Buccal
Answer: B) Submandibular

47. The saliva secreted by submandibular gland is:
A) Purely mucous
B) Purely serous
C) Mixed but serous predominant
D) Mixed but mucous predominant
Answer: C) Mixed but serous predominant

48. The facial nerve exits the skull through:
A) Stylomastoid foramen
B) Jugular foramen
C) Foramen ovale
D) Foramen spinosum
Answer: A) Stylomastoid foramen

49. The fascia enclosing the parotid gland is thickened to form the:
A) Pterygoid fascia
B) Parotid capsule
C) Buccal sheath
D) Deep lamina propria
Answer: B) Parotid capsule

50. The postganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the parotid gland reach it through:
A) Auriculotemporal nerve
B) Lingual nerve
C) Chorda tympani
D) Buccal nerve
Answer: A) Auriculotemporal nerve

51. The deep part of the parotid gland lies mainly:
A) Infratemporal fossa
B) Retromandibular space
C) Parapharyngeal space
D) Buccal space
Answer: B) Retromandibular space

52. Which cranial nerve provides the parasympathetic root to otic ganglion?
A) Glossopharyngeal nerve
B) Facial nerve
C) Trigeminal nerve
D) Vagus nerve
Answer: A) Glossopharyngeal nerve

53. The submandibular gland wraps around which muscle?
A) Hyoglossus
B) Posterior border of mylohyoid
C) Genioglossus
D) Digastric anterior belly
Answer: B) Posterior border of mylohyoid

54. The sublingual gland rests in which bony depression?
A) Digastric fossa
B) Submandibular fossa
C) Sublingual fossa
D) Mylohyoid ridge
Answer: C) Sublingual fossa

55. Which type of epithelium lines the ducts of salivary glands?
A) Stratified squamous
B) Simple cuboidal to columnar
C) Transitional
D) Pseudostratified columnar
Answer: B) Simple cuboidal to columnar

56. The intralobular ducts of salivary glands are of two types:
A) Intercalated and striated ducts
B) Interlobular and main ducts
C) Acinar and alveolar ducts
D) Mucous and serous ducts
Answer: A) Intercalated and striated ducts

57. The salivary glands are derived embryologically from:
A) Mesoderm
B) Oral ectoderm and endoderm
C) Neural crest
D) Pharyngeal mesenchyme
Answer: B) Oral ectoderm and endoderm

58. Which muscle forms the anterior boundary of the parotid gland?
A) Masseter
B) Buccinator
C) Sternocleidomastoid
D) Digastric
Answer: A) Masseter

59. The submandibular duct runs between which two structures?
A) Mylohyoid and masseter
B) Mylohyoid and hyoglossus
C) Buccinator and genioglossus
D) Lingual nerve and hypoglossal nerve
Answer: B) Mylohyoid and hyoglossus

60. The arterial supply to submandibular gland is mainly from:
A) Lingual artery
B) Facial artery
C) Maxillary artery
D) Superior thyroid artery
Answer: B) Facial artery

61. The lymphatic drainage of submandibular gland is to:
A) Parotid nodes
B) Submandibular lymph nodes
C) Submental nodes
D) Retropharyngeal nodes
Answer: B) Submandibular lymph nodes

62. The mucous acini of salivary glands contain:
A) Zymogen granules
B) Mucin droplets
C) Enzyme vesicles
D) Acidophilic bodies
Answer: B) Mucin droplets

63. The serous acini of salivary glands are characterized by:
A) Flattened nuclei at periphery
B) Spherical nuclei and basophilic cytoplasm
C) Clear cytoplasm with mucin
D) Pale staining
Answer: B) Spherical nuclei and basophilic cytoplasm

64. Salivary secretion is inhibited by:
A) Parasympathetic stimulation
B) Sympathetic overactivity
C) Chorda tympani activation
D) Taste stimuli
Answer: B) Sympathetic overactivity

65. The parotid gland receives its venous drainage mainly into:
A) External jugular vein
B) Facial vein
C) Retromandibular vein
D) Internal jugular vein
Answer: C) Retromandibular vein

66. Which gland is located anterior to the ear and below the zygomatic arch?
A) Parotid gland
B) Submandibular gland
C) Sublingual gland
D) Lacrimal gland
Answer: A) Parotid gland

67. The parotid gland pierces which muscle before opening in the oral cavity?
A) Masseter
B) Buccinator
C) Temporalis
D) Digastric
Answer: B) Buccinator

68. The excretory ducts of submandibular gland open:
A) Into buccal vestibule
B) Into pharyngeal wall
C) On either side of lingual frenulum
D) Near upper second molar
Answer: C) On either side of lingual frenulum

69. Which minor salivary glands are purely mucous?
A) Lingual glands of von Ebner
B) Palatine glands
C) Buccal glands
D) Labial glands
Answer: B) Palatine glands

70. The secretion of sublingual gland is described as:
A) Purely serous
B) Mixed, mucous predominant
C) Purely mucous
D) Serous predominant
Answer: B) Mixed, mucous predominant

71. The saliva from submandibular gland drains via Wharton’s duct which is how long?
A) 1 cm
B) 3 cm
C) 5 cm
D) 8 cm
Answer: C) 5 cm

72. The submandibular ganglion is suspended from:
A) Hypoglossal nerve
B) Lingual nerve
C) Facial nerve
D) Chorda tympani
Answer: B) Lingual nerve

73. Which of the following glands contributes to salivary buffering capacity?
A) Sublingual
B) Parotid
C) Submandibular
D) Palatine
Answer: B) Parotid

74. The parotid gland develops from:
A) Ectoderm of primitive mouth (stomodeum)
B) Endoderm of foregut
C) Mesoderm of first arch
D) Neural crest cells
Answer: A) Ectoderm of primitive mouth (stomodeum)

75. The facial artery passes in relation to submandibular gland as:
A) Grooving its posterior surface
B) Passing superficial to it
C) Piercing it
D) Running deep within it
Answer: A) Grooving its posterior surface

76. The main nerve at risk during parotid gland surgery is:
A) Hypoglossal nerve
B) Glossopharyngeal nerve
C) Facial nerve
D) Lingual nerve
Answer: C) Facial nerve

77. Which of the following passes deep to the hyoglossus muscle?
A) Lingual nerve
B) Hypoglossal nerve
C) Submandibular duct
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve
Answer: B) Hypoglossal nerve

78. The parasympathetic stimulation of salivary glands causes:
A) Thick, viscous saliva
B) Profuse watery secretion
C) Inhibition of secretion
D) Salivary stone formation
Answer: B) Profuse watery secretion

79. The parotid gland receives sympathetic fibers via:
A) Lingual nerve
B) Facial nerve
C) External carotid plexus
D) Chorda tympani
Answer: C) External carotid plexus

80. Which part of the parotid gland lies between the mandible and sternocleidomastoid muscle?
A) Deep part
B) Superficial part
C) Anterior extension
D) Retromandibular part
Answer: B) Superficial part

81. The intercalated ducts in salivary glands are lined by:
A) Stratified columnar epithelium
B) Simple cuboidal epithelium
C) Transitional epithelium
D) Simple squamous epithelium
Answer: B) Simple cuboidal epithelium

82. The striated ducts in salivary glands function mainly in:
A) Enzyme secretion
B) Electrolyte reabsorption and modification of saliva
C) Mucin secretion
D) Protein synthesis
Answer: B) Electrolyte reabsorption and modification of saliva

83. The connective tissue septa in salivary glands divide them into:
A) Lobes
B) Lobules
C) Acini
D) Ducts
Answer: B) Lobules

84. The posterior border of parotid gland is related to:
A) Mandible
B) Sternocleidomastoid muscle
C) Buccinator muscle
D) Masseter muscle
Answer: B) Sternocleidomastoid muscle

85. The submandibular gland’s deep part lies in which space?
A) Buccal space
B) Sublingual space
C) Retropharyngeal space
D) Parapharyngeal space
Answer: B) Sublingual space

86. The parotid duct pierces which muscle before entering the oral cavity?
A) Buccinator
B) Masseter
C) Mylohyoid
D) Hyoglossus
Answer: A) Buccinator

87. The secretion from which gland is most affected in Sjögren’s syndrome?
A) Palatine glands
B) Buccal glands
C) Parotid gland
D) Sublingual gland
Answer: C) Parotid gland

88. The postganglionic fibers to submandibular gland arise from:
A) Otic ganglion
B) Pterygopalatine ganglion
C) Submandibular ganglion
D) Geniculate ganglion
Answer: C) Submandibular ganglion

89. Which salivary gland has both superficial and deep parts separated by mylohyoid?
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Palatine
Answer: B) Submandibular

90. The submandibular gland can be palpated in:
A) Retromandibular fossa
B) Submandibular triangle
C) Sublingual space
D) Infratemporal fossa
Answer: B) Submandibular triangle

91. The main enzyme present in parotid secretion is:
A) Lipase
B) Salivary amylase (ptyalin)
C) Trypsin
D) Lysozyme
Answer: B) Salivary amylase (ptyalin)

92. The deep part of submandibular gland is related laterally to:
A) Genioglossus
B) Mylohyoid muscle
C) Hyoglossus
D) Geniohyoid
Answer: B) Mylohyoid muscle

93. Which gland has the most viscous secretion?
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Minor labial glands
Answer: C) Sublingual

94. The minor salivary glands of von Ebner are associated with:
A) Hard palate
B) Circumvallate papillae of tongue
C) Buccal mucosa
D) Floor of mouth
Answer: B) Circumvallate papillae of tongue

95. The parasympathetic stimulation increases secretion primarily through:
A) Adrenergic receptors
B) Cholinergic muscarinic receptors
C) Nicotinic receptors
D) Dopaminergic receptors
Answer: B) Cholinergic muscarinic receptors

96. Which salivary gland wraps around the posterior border of the mylohyoid muscle?
A) Parotid
B) Submandibular
C) Sublingual
D) Buccal
Answer: B) Submandibular

97. The terminal duct of sublingual gland often joins:
A) Parotid duct
B) Submandibular duct (Wharton’s)
C) Buccal duct
D) Palatine duct
Answer: B) Submandibular duct (Wharton’s)

98. The first major salivary gland to develop embryologically is:
A) Parotid gland
B) Submandibular gland
C) Sublingual gland
D) Palatine gland
Answer: A) Parotid gland

99. The secretory end pieces of salivary glands are called:
A) Ductules
B) Acini
C) Lobules
D) Vesicles
Answer: B) Acini

100. Inflammation of parotid gland is clinically known as:
A) Glossitis
B) Sialolithiasis
C) Parotitis (Mumps)
D) Sialadenosis
Answer: C) Parotitis (Mumps)