part of part of capable of exocrine cell serous secreting cell serous demilune cell of salivary gland 2026-03-24T10:46:30Z serous demilune cell demilune cell of salivary gland Crescents of Giannuzzi serous crescent cell A serous secreting cell that is part of a salivary gland, forming crescent-shaped (demilune) caps at the distal ends of mucous acini in mixed glands. Prominent in human submandibular and sublingual glands, this cell delivers its watery, enzyme-rich secretions including alpha-amylase through intercellular canaliculi that run between adjacent mucous cells to reach the acinar lumen (Amano et al., 2012). In rodents, these cells also express neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). The classic crescent-shaped morphology that gives demilune cells their name is a well-established histological feature, but must be caveated with the fixation artifact issue. Amano et al. (2012) describe how rapid-freeze fixation reveals a more tubular arrangement, suggesting the demilune shape is at least partly artifactual. saliva secretion saliva-secreting gland