saliva

(noun)

A clear, slightly alkaline liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands that consists of water, mucin, protein, and enzymes. It moistens the mouth, lubricates ingested food, and begins the breakdown of starches.

Related Terms

Examples of saliva in the following topics:

  • Dental Caries

    • If demineralization exceeds saliva and other remineralization factors such as from calcium and fluoridated toothpastes, these tissues progressively break down, producing dental caries (cavities, holes in the teeth) .
    • To be specific, a tooth (which is primarily mineral in content) is in a constant state of back-and-forth demineralization and remineralization between the tooth and surrounding saliva.
    • For people with little saliva, especially due to radiation therapies that may destroy the salivary glands, there also exists remineralization gel.
    • All caries occur from acid demineralization that exceeds saliva and fluoride remineralization, and almost all acid demineralization occurs where food (containing carbohydrate like sugar) is left on teeth.
    • The process is dynamic, however, as remineralization can also occur if the acid is neutralized by saliva or mouthwash.

  • Mouth

    • The mouth receives and mechanically breaks down food, produces saliva, and is the first portion of the alimentary canal.
    • It receives food and moistens the food with saliva, while the food is mechanically processed (mastication) by the teeth.
    • Saliva is projected from three main pairs of salivary glands: the large parotid glands near the cheeks, the submandibular glands beneath the mandible, and the sublingual glands beneath the tongue.
    • Saliva keeps the mouth moist and lubricates the food, helping the tongue form the food into a soft wad, called a bolus.
    • The fluid of saliva also contains several enzymes, notably lysozyme—an antibacterial agent—and amylase, which catalyzes large starch molecules into simpler sugars via hydrolysis.

  • Sjögren's Syndrome

    • Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva.
    • Sjögren's syndrome, also known as "Mikulicz disease" and "Sicca syndrome," is a systemic autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva.
    • An alternative test is nonstimulated whole saliva flow collection, in which the patient spits into a test tube every minute for 15 minutes.
    • Preventive dental treatment is also necessary, as the lack of saliva associated with dry mouth creates an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria that cause dental cavities.

  • Processes and Functions of the Digestive System

    • A brain reflex triggers the flow of saliva when we see or even think about food.
    • Enzymes in saliva then begin the chemical breakdown of food; teeth aid in the mechanical breakdown of larger food particles.
    • Saliva moistens the food, while the teeth masticate the food and make it easier to swallow.
    • To accomplish this moistening goal, the salivary glands produce an estimated three liters of saliva per day.
    • Amylase, the digestive enzyme found in saliva, starts to break down starch into simple sugars before the food even leaves the mouth.

  • Digestion in the Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus

    • When food enters the mouth, digestion begins with the action of mastication, a form of mechanical digestion, and with the contact of saliva.
    • Saliva is secreted in large amounts (1-1.5 liters per day) by three pairs of exocrine salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) in the oral cavity, and is mixed with the chewed food by the tongue.

  • Infectious Mononucleosis

    • The infection is spread via saliva, and has an incubation period of four to seven weeks.

  • Hypoglossal (XII) Nerve

    • While the hypoglossal nerve controls the tongue's involuntary activities of swallowing to clear the mouth of saliva, most of the functions it controls are voluntary, meaning that the execution of these activities requires conscious thought.

  • Glossopharyngeal (IX) Nerve

    • It controls muscles in the oral cavity and upper throat, as well as part of the sense of taste and the production of saliva.

  • Mumps

    • Mumps is a contagious disease that is spread from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva from an infected person.
    • If there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, a test of saliva or blood may be carried out.

  • Organs of the Digestive System

    • When we take a bite of food, the food material gets chewed up and processed in the mouth, where saliva begins the process of chemical and mechanical breakdown.
    • When we mix up food with saliva, the resulting mushy wad is called a bolus.