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Salivary Glands
Salivary Glands
Three pairs of major salivary glands (parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands) and numerous smaller ones secrete saliva into the mouth (oral cavity), where it is mixed with food during mastication. Saliva contains water, mucus, and enzyme amylase. Functions of saliva include the following:
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It has a cleansing action on the teeth It moistens and lubricates food during mastication and swallowing It dissolves certain molecules so that food can be tasted (see taste) It begins the chemical digestion of starches through the action of amylase, which breaks down polysaccharides into disaccharides.
The saliva from the parotid gland is a rather thin, watery fluid, but the saliva from the sublingual and the submandibular glands contains mucus and is much thicker.