Anatomy and Physiology II Practice Test

The mumps involves which one of the following glands?

1. Parotid

2. Palatine

3. Submandibular

4. Sublingual

The correct answer is: Parotid

The mumps virus specifically targets the parotid glands, which are the largest of the salivary glands located near the jaw, just in front of the ears. When a person contracts mumps, the parotid glands become inflamed, leading to the characteristic swelling observed in the disease. This inflammation is due to the viral infection spreading to the glandular tissue. The other glands listed—the palatine, submandibular, and sublingual—play roles in saliva production but are not primarily affected by the mumps virus. The palatine glands contribute to the formation of saliva in the oral cavity, while the submandibular glands are located beneath the lower jaw and the sublingual glands sit under the tongue. Though these glands are important for digestion and oral health, they are not associated with the mumps infection. Thus, the parotid gland is the correct answer as it is the gland that becomes inflamed during a mumps infection.