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Saliva on a baby's lips. Saliva (commonly referred to as spit or drool) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth.In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be extracted), enzymes (such as lipase and amylase), and antimicrobial agents (such as secretory IgA, and lysozymes).
The paired submandibular glands (historically known as submaxillary glands) are major salivary glands located beneath the floor of the mouth.In adult humans, they each weigh about 15 grams and contribute some 60–67% of unstimulated saliva secretion; on stimulation their contribution decreases in proportion as parotid gland secretion rises to 50%. [1]
Sympathetic The cell bodies of the preganglionic sympathetic fibres that supply the gland usually lie in the lateral horns of upper thoracic spinal segments (T1-T3). [ citation needed ] Postganglionic sympathetic fibers from superior cervical ganglion reach the gland by passing along the external carotid artery and middle meningeal artery .
Parasympathetic stimulation evokes a copious flow of saliva. Parasympathetic innervation to the salivary glands is carried via cranial nerves . The parotid gland receives its parasympathetic input from the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) via the otic ganglion , [ 14 ] while the submandibular and sublingual glands receive their parasympathetic ...
A sialogogue (also spelled sialagogue, ptysmagogue or ptyalagogue) is a substance, especially a medication, that increases the flow rate of saliva. [1] The definition focuses on substances that promote production or secretion of saliva (proximal causation) rather than any food that is mouthwatering (distal causation that triggers proximal causation).
Drooling can be caused by excess production of saliva, inability to retain saliva within the mouth (incontinence of saliva), or problems with swallowing (dysphagia or odynophagia). There are some frequent and harmless cases of drooling – for instance, a numbed mouth from either benzocaine , or when going to the dentist's office.
Saliva moistens and softens food, and along with the chewing action of the teeth, transforms the food into a smooth bolus. The bolus is further helped by the lubrication provided by the saliva in its passage from the mouth into the esophagus. Also of importance is the presence in saliva of the digestive enzymes amylase and lipase.
A stimulated saliva flow rate less than 0.5 ml per gland in 5 minutes or less than 1 ml per gland in 10 minutes is decreased. [1] The term subjective xerostomia is sometimes used to describe the symptom in the absence of any clinical evidence of dryness. [8] Xerostomia may also result from a change in composition of saliva (from serous to ...