Salivary Gland Physiology — MFDS Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: E — Parotid gland
The parotid gland is the only listed gland whose secretory acini are exclusively serous, producing a watery, protein-rich secretion. The submandibular gland is mixed but serous-predominant; consequently, it could also satisfy the original wording “predominantly serous,” making that stem ambiguous. The sublingual gland is mixed but predominantly mucous. Minor salivary glands of the palate and lip are principally mucous rather than exclusively serous. Therefore, specifying exclusively serous acini makes the parotid gland the single best answer.
Reference: Al-Maweri SA et al. Prosthodontic implications of saliva and salivary gland dysfunction, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38311164/