Physiology of Salivary

Secretion
 Specific Learning Objectives

At the end of class you must know .......

 Salivary glands
 Properties and composition of saliva
 Functions of saliva
 Mechanism of secretion of saliva
 Regulation of salivary secretion
 Applied physiology
 Salivary Gland

It is located in and around the oral cavity and it secret

saliva from the heterogenous(mucous cell and serous
cell) group of salivary gland
 Major salivary glands

Saliva contribution by each major

salivary glands are:
i. Parotid glands : 25%.

ii. Submandibular
or
Submaxillary glands: 70%

iii. Sublingual glands : 5%.

Minor salivary glands
 Lingual mucus gland
 Lingual serous gland
 Buccal gland
 Labial gland
 Palatine glands
 Structure and duct system
of salivary glands
 Salivary glands are formed by acini
or alveoli
 Each acinus is formed by a many
pyramidal cells which surround a
central globular cavity
 Myoepithelial cells are present,which
sourround the pyramidal cells
 Salivary glands contain chiefly two
types of cells called mucous cell and
serous cell
 Central cavity of each acinus is
continuous with the lumen of the
intercalated duct.
 These ducts join to form intralobular
and interlobular,which lead into the
main duct
Classification of salaviary gland based on
type of secretion:

I. Serous gland: It secret thin and watery saliva

(parotid gland, lingual serous gland)

II. Mucus gland: It secrete thick and viscous saliva

(lingual mucus gland, buccal gland, palatal gland)

III.Mixed gland :It contain both serous and mucous

cells (submandibular, sublingual, labial gland)
SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND
Composition of saliva
 Functions of the saliva
Saliva performs many important digestive and non
digestive function
1. Saliva contain ptyalin or salivary amylase,which
cause splitting of starch

2. Saliva has many protective function. Saliva keeps

the mouth clean and prevent the oral infection.
Saiva contains Lysozyme, which is antibacterial
function.IgA in saliva provide local immunity and
Lactoferrin in saliva is bacteristatic

3. Saliva keeps the mouth cavity and tongue moist,

which facilitates speech and prvent the dryness of
the mouth.
 Functions of the saliva
4. Salvent action of saliva increases taste of food

5. Saliva contain Mucin, which help to lubication of

food and facilitate the mastication and swallowing in
mouth

6. Saliva contains Bicarbonate which buffers gastric

acid to some extent in the stomach and reduce the
heart burn

7. Prolin rich protein in saliva protect the enamel of

the teeth and thus provide strength to the teeth.
 Functions of the saliva

8. Saliva prevents injury to buccal mucosa by

diluting the hot and irritant food material

9. In animal, salivation(panting) is an important

process of dissipation of heat and provide
temperature regulation

10.Saliva excretes certain heavy metals,such as

thiocynate, morphin from the body
 Mechanism of secretion of saliva

 Salivary secretion
occurs in two
stages

I. Secretion in the
ascinus is called as
primary secretion

II. Secretion in the ducts

is called modified or
final secretion
Regulation of salivary secretion
 Nerve supply

 Salivary glands are innervated by both Sympathetic

and Parasympathetic nerve fibers of autonomic
nervous system.
 Parasympathetic fibers

 The centers for

parasympathetic fibers
are located in medulla
 Preganglionic fibers for
Parotid glands are
present in 9th cranial nerve
that originate in inferior
salivary nucleus and
terminate in oticganglion.
 Postganglionic fibers
originate and innervate
the gland
 Parasympathetic fibers
 Fibers for Submandibular and
Sublingual Glands are present in
the 7th cranial nerve that originate
from the superior salivatory
nucleus and terminate in
submandibular ganglion.

 postganglionic fibers come out and

supply the glands.

 Stimulation of parasympathetic
nerve fibers causes profuse and
watery saliva.

 It Activate the acinar cells and

dilate the blood vessels of salivary
glands by acetylcholine
 Sympathetic fibers
 It is originate from T1 and T2 and terminate in
superior cervical ganglion.

 Postganglionic fibers leave the ganglion and

innervate acini, duct and blood vessels.

 Stimulation of sympathetic nerve fibers causes

less secretion of saliva, which is thick and rich in
mucus

 It Activate the acinar cells and causes

vasoconstriction by secreting noradrenalin.
 Regulation of salivary secretion

 Salivary secretion occurs in the cephalic phase

Reflex secretion:
Saliva is secreted reflexly by
I. Unconditioned reflex ( Inherent ):
It occurs when food is present in the moth
II. Conditioned reflex (Acquired):
It occurs by sight, smell and thought of food
Regulation of salivary secretion by the parasympathetic nervous system. ACh,
acetylcholine and Saliva is also produced by the sublingual glands but these are a
minor contributor
APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
 Defects in salivary secretion
1.Xerostomia (Aptyalism):
 This is the condition in which there is decreased
secretion of saliva lead to dryness of mouth.

 It is common in acute stressfull condition due to

stimulation of sympathetic nerve fiber

 Complete absent of salivary secretion due to

congenital absence of salivary gland
 2.Crocodile tears

 It is the condition characterized

by Tears production while
eating.

 During regeneration of injured

facial nerve of parasympathetic
fibers, which supplied to
submandibular and sublingual
salivary glands are deviate to
the lacrimal gland.

 Tears production is associated

with salivation
 3.Chorda tympani syndrome
 It is the condition characterized by
sweating while eating.

 During the regeneration of some of

the injured parasympathetic nerve
fibers which run along with chorda
tympani branch of facial nerve
may deviate and join with the
nerve fibers, which supplied to
sweat glands.

 When the food is placed in the

mouth, salivary secretion is
associated with sweat secretion
4. Sialorrhoea: Excessive salivation seen in
pregnancy woman, disease of gums and
carcinoma of the oesophagus.

5.Mumps: Inflamation of parotid gland due

acute viral infection by paramyxovirus

6.Sialolithiasis: This is the condition in which

stone is formed in the duct of salivary gland.
SUMMARY
 REFERENCES

 Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology

 GK Pal Comprehensive textbook of Medical
Physiology Volume 1
 Text book of medical physiology (Vol 1 6 th edition)-
A K Jain.
 Textbook of Essential Medical Physiology -
Sembulingam