Glands & Secretory Epithelium — General Histology & Microscopy

Glands & Secretory Epithelium MCQs: practice questions

Sample Glands & Secretory Epithelium multiple-choice questions from General Histology & Microscopy.

1. A steroid-producing endocrine cell would be expected to have relatively abundant:

   • A. Rough ER and secretory granules only
   • B. Smooth ER and mitochondria
   • C. Keratin filaments only
   • D. Microvilli and cilia
   • E. Desmosomes only

2. Which feature best distinguishes exocrine from endocrine glands?

   • A. Exocrine glands secrete only proteins
   • B. Endocrine glands always have ducts
   • C. Exocrine glands usually retain ducts; endocrine glands release into blood or interstitium
   • D. Exocrine glands never contain epithelial cells
   • E. Endocrine glands always use apocrine secretion

3. A gland has an unbranched duct but a branched secretory portion. Which classification is most appropriate?

   • A. Compound gland
   • B. Simple branched acinar/tubular gland
   • C. Endocrine gland
   • D. Holocrine gland
   • E. Diffuse endocrine gland

4. Which type of gland is composed of secretory cells embedded individually or in small groups within another epithelial tissue?

   • A. Diffuse endocrine system
   • B. Compound exocrine gland
   • C. Simple tubular gland
   • D. Sebaceous gland
   • E. Compound acinar gland

5. A gland releases its secretory product by exocytosis without loss of cytoplasm. Which mode of secretion is this?

   • A. Merocrine
   • B. Apocrine
   • C. Holocrine
   • D. Endocytosis
   • E. Transcytosis

6. A gland contains both tubular and acinar secretory units. Which term describes its secretory organization?

7. Which mode of secretion involves destruction of the entire secretory cell?

8. Which epithelial feature is especially important for directional secretion from glandular cells?

9. Which glandular component carries secretions from the secretory unit toward the epithelial surface?

10. Which feature would most strongly support identification of an endocrine rather than exocrine gland in a histologic section?

11. Which gland is a classic example of merocrine secretion?

12. A gland secretes a glycoprotein-rich mucous product. Which cytoplasmic feature would be particularly relevant to synthesis and processing of this secretion?

13. A salivary gland shows secretory end pieces with pyramidal cells and ducts. Which broad classification is most appropriate?

14. Which statement about endocrine glands is most accurate?

15. Which secretory mechanism is associated with secretion by exocytosis?

16. Which mode of secretion involves loss of the apical portion of the secretory cell?

17. A histology section shows a gland with secretory units that are arranged in clusters around small lumina and connected to a branched duct system. Which classification best fits?

18. A gland has branched ducts and saclike secretory units. How is it classified?

19. Which gland type releases its products into the bloodstream rather than through a duct?

20. Which glandular secretion mechanism causes the least structural loss to the secretory cell?

21. A protein-secreting gland cell has abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes. This organelle pattern most strongly indicates synthesis of:

22. Which statement correctly pairs a gland with its typical secretory mechanism?

23. Which glandular arrangement has a single unbranched duct and an unbranched secretory portion?

24. A patient has a disorder of a gland in which secretory cells are destroyed as they release their product. Which mechanism is involved?

25. Which gland is a classic example of holocrine secretion?