Prepare for the AST Surgical Technologist Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions; each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready to succeed!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


The mumps may be diagnosed by finding inflammation in which of the following glands?

  1. Thyroid

  2. Parotid

  3. Sublingual

  4. Submandibular

The correct answer is: Parotid

The mumps virus is primarily known for causing inflammation of the parotid glands, which are the largest salivary glands located near the ears. When someone contracts mumps, they typically experience swelling and pain in these glands, which is a hallmark symptom of the infection. The parotid glands' involvement distinguishes mumps from other viral infections, as the swelling can be quite pronounced and is often one of the first signs leading to diagnosis. In contrast, the thyroid, sublingual, and submandibular glands are not commonly affected by the mumps virus. While patients may experience other symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing or pain, these specific glands do not undergo the same level of inflammation associated with mumps as the parotid glands do. Therefore, recognizing the parotid glands as the primary site of inflammation in mumps is key to understanding the disease and its manifestations.