Salivary Glands

 

Definition:

The time period "salivary gland" refers to a spread of glands, inclusive of the parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands in people, which are huge compound racemose glands that secrete fluid, mainly saliva, into the mouth hollow space. The human mouth has 3 pairs of salivary glands.

Namely-

1. Parotid glands: 

Largest and serous gland of nature. Two parotid glands are located on one side of the face just below each ear. The parotid gland opens into the oral cavity through the duct of Stensen. The inflammation that occurs when this gland virus is infected is called mumps.

2. Submandibular or submaxillary glands: 

There is the total of two submandibular glands, one under each mandible or lower jaw. They are glands of mixed nature. This gland lies on the floor of the oral cavity under the tongue.

3. Sublingual glands: 

Sublingual glands are under the tongue, below the mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth. They are glands of mucous nature and these glands open to the floor of the oral cavity through several fine ducts. These ducts are called ducts of rivinus.  Salivary glands consist of numerous spherical or ovoid sacs that secrete saliva covered with epithelium. At the center of each stalk is a duct. The ducts join together to form the main duct of the gland. The tube then enters the mouth. Glandular cells are of two types, namely serous cells secrete tayaline and maltase enzymes and mucous cells secrete mucus.

Functions of Salivary Glands:

Salivary glands secrete saliva. Saliva water and mucus make the food soft and slippery. It helps in clearing the throat. Salivary enzymes are involved in the digestion of carbohydrates. Lysozyme protects teeth by destroying bacteria mixed with food.

Saliva:

The juice secreted from the salivary glands is called saliva or saliva. A healthy person secretes 1200-1500 ml of saliva daily by doing Saliva is slightly acidic (pH 6.02-7.05) relative importance 1.002-1.012: freezing point 0.07-0.34°C.

Characteristics:

Saliva is slightly cloudy and viscous because of the presence of some cellular additives (yeast, micro organism, protozoa, leukocytes, epithelial cells, etc.) and mucin.

Salivary components:

1. Water: 99.5% 

2. Solids: 0.5%

(a) Inorganic matter: About 0.2%

sodium, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium, and Inorganic salts like sodium phosphate, potassium thiocyanate, bicarbonate, etc.

(b) Organic matter: About 0.3%

(1) Enzymes: salivary amylase or tyalin, lysozyme, phosphatase, carbonic anhydrase, etc.

(2) Other organic substances: mucin, urea, amino acids, cholesterol, vitamins, antigens, antibodies, etc.

(3) Gaseous components: CO2 contains 50 ml, Oxygen contains 1.00 ml, and nitrogen contains 2.3 when dissolved in 100 ml of solution.

 The function of Saliva:

1. Mechanical function:

(a) Saliva keeps the mouth always moist and helps to speak,

(b) It is food moisturizes and acts as a lubricant during chewing;

(c) Saliva protects the mucosal walls of the mouth by soothing hot and inflammatory substances.

(d) It destroys bacteria and other microbes that come with the food.

2. Digestion: Saliva contains tayalin and maltase enzymes that digest carbohydrates. They convert sugars into simple.

3. Excretion: Some important waste products are lactic acid, urea, uric acid, and heavy metals (Hg, Pb, As ) Thiocyanate, morphine, antibiotics, various alkaloids, etc. are excreted from the body through saliva.

4. Test: The locus of taste is a type of chemical sensation. Saliva digests various food substances and Aids in tasting through the tongue. People with low salivation suffer from dyegedsia (yogis).

5. Control of water balance: Saliva helps control water balance in the body. Dehydration in the body reduces saliva secretion and causes thirst. When a thirsty person drinks water, the water balance of the body is controlled.

6. Buffer action: Bicarbonate of saliva juice and small amounts of phosphate and mucin act as buffers. The buffering action of saliva helps maintain the pH of the mouth at 7.0.