Saliva

It is the watery substance produced in the mouths by by

exocrine salivary glands.
The major salivary glands the parotid
(25%), submandibular (70%) and
sublingual glands (5%). (under
autonomic nervous system).

Besides these glands, there are

many tiny glands called minor
salivary glands.
(under local control)
 Functions of saliva
Saliva works as
1- Moistening agent: Saliva keeps the mucous membrane of cheek,
lips, tongue and throat moist. So, saliva helps to create a food
bolus, so it can be swallowed easily.
2- Solvent and taste promoter: Saliva dissolves the food substances found
in the mouth to promote and identify the taste (taste buds cannot
identify the taste of dry substances)
3- Cleansing agent: It wipes and cleans cheek, teeth, gums, lips and
throat with the help of tongue, to maintain cleanliness and odour-free
mouth.
4- Disinfectants: So, saliva can resist bacteria. Enzymes in the saliva work on it.

5- Wound healer: Researchers have discovered a protein called nerve

growth factor (NGF) in the saliva of mice. Wounds doused with NGF
healed twice as fast as untreated and unlicked wounds.

6- Pain-killer: Opiorphin, a newly researched pain-killing substance,

was found in human saliva.
7- Thirst enhancer: Saliva remains as an indicator for the brain to
call for water needed for the body (since low volume of water in
the body causes less volume of saliva)
 Functions of saliva (continue)
8- Excretory functions: Saliva has excretory functions where it
expels the unwanted or overloaded electrolytes or chemicals or
bacteria (hence, saliva may be infectious).
9- Protective functions: It spreads as a layer over the mucous membrane
of mouth. So, it acts as a protective coat against abrasions or entry of
infection.
10- Spit: It helps in spitting out the unwanted food or foreign substances
(e.g. stones in foods, insects, … etc.) which have entered into the
mouth.
11- Neutraliser: Saliva having pH around 6.4 (slightly alkaline). So,
increased secretion can help in controlling heartburn /
oesophagitis / acidity of stomach.
12- Digestive agent: Generally digestive function starts in the
mouth itself – grinding (mechanical digestion), dissolving,
making food into bolus, etc., are all part of the digestive
functions.
Also, saliva is the first digestive juice of digestive tract. It breaks
down the food substances.
Saliva contains α- amylase enzyme (ptyalin) that will break large,
insoluble starch molecules into soluble starches (amylodextrin,
erythrodextrin, achrodextrin) i.e. producing smaller dextrin and
maltose. (pH= 5.6-6.9), 37).
 Functions of saliva (continue)
Salivary glands also secrete enzyme to start fat digestion (lingual lipase) . This is
useful for infants to digest the fat in milk.

13- Finally, without saliva, no one can speak fluently.

Role of saliva in emesis
Vomit contains gastic substances which are extremely acidic and will
erode teeth.
A protective reflex occurs before the individual prepares to vomit.
Signals are sent from the brain to the salivary glands via the
autonomic nervous system (the sympathetic nervous system and the
parasympathetic) causing increased saliva secretion, even before
vomiting.
Thus, when vomiting does occur, there is already saliva present in
the mouth acting to minimize the acidity and thus prevent
destruction of teeth.
The saliva stimulated by sympathetic innervation is thicker while it is
. more watery when it is stimulated parasympathetically
 Contents of saliva
1- 98% water:
2- Electrolytes: such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium,
chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate,…. etc.
3- Mucus: Mucus in saliva mainly consists of mucopolysaccharides
and glycoproteins .
4- Antibacterial compounds: such as thiocyanate, hydrogen
peroxide, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and secretory
immunoglobulin A (sIgA).
5- Opiorphin: A newly researched pain-killing substance
6- Various enzymes: They include * major enzymes such as:
Amylase, lysosome (acts to lyse bacteria) and lingual lipase.
Note: Lingual lipase has an optimum pH ~ 4.0 so it is not activated
till entering an acidic environment.
* Minor enzymes include:
salivary acid phosphatases, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase,
salivary lactoperoxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione
transferase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate
isomerase, … etc.
 Contents of saliva (continue)

7- Cells: Possibly as much as 8 million human and 500 million

bacterial cells per mL.
The presence of bacterial products (small organic acids, amines
and thiols) causes saliva to sometimes exhibit foul odor.

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