Saliva
Saliva is a clear liquid that's produced in the mouths of animals, including humans. It's secreted by the salivary glands and has several important functions. Saliva helps to moisten the mouth, initiate digestion, and help with swallowing. It also plays a significant role in maintaining oral health.
Composition[edit | edit source]
Saliva is composed of 99.5% water, while the remaining 0.5% consists of various substances including electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds. The enzymes present in saliva are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats. These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices, thus protecting teeth from bacterial decay.
Functions[edit | edit source]
Saliva serves several functions in the body. It aids in digestion by moistening food and creating a food bolus, so it can be swallowed easily. Saliva contains the enzymes amylase and lipase. Amylase starts to break down starches into maltose and dextrin, while lipase starts to break down fats. Saliva also serves as a solvent in which solid particles can dissolve in and enter the taste buds located on the tongue. It also has a cleaning action on the teeth, and its alkaline nature can neutralize the acids produced by bacteria that can lead to tooth decay.
Production[edit | edit source]
Saliva is produced in and secreted from the salivary glands. The basic secretory units of salivary glands are clusters of cells called acini. These cells secrete a fluid that contains water, electrolytes, mucus, and enzymes, all of which flow out of the acinus into collecting ducts.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Changes in the composition and production of saliva can be a significant factor in disease. Reduced saliva production can lead to dry mouth and increase the risk of gingivitis and tooth decay. Excessive saliva production can be a symptom of various diseases including Parkinson's disease, Bell's palsy, and rabies.
See also[edit | edit source]
| Saliva Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
