3. Saliva Flashcards
What are the roles of saliva?
Lubrication - mucus content
Protection
Digestion
How does saliva protect us?
Cooling effect
Buffers acid
Washes away debris stuck in teeth
Antibacterial
What digestion occurs in saliva?
Salivary amylase - carbs
Lingual lipase - fat digestion
Where is saliva produced?
Parotid gland (25%) Sublingual gland (5%) Submandibular gland (70%)
Where is initial saliva produced within the glands?
Acinus (lined with acinar cells)
- isotonic with plasma
What happens after initial saliva moves from the acinus?
Moves past ductal cells which are impermeable to water, Na+ and Cl- moves out of saliva causing it to become hypotonic to plasma
K+ and HCO3- moves into saliva
How are salivary glands stimulated?
Autonomic control - both parasympathetic and sympathetic
What happens when the sympathetic nervous system stimulates salivary glands?
Less watery
Dry mouth
What is the nerve supply to the salivary glands?
Glossopharyngeal to parotid
Branches of facial nerve to submandibular and sublingual
What is xerostomia?
To enough saliva
What can cause xerostomia?
Medications Autoimmune Dementia Radiotherapy Dehydration
What can xerostomia cause?
Infections
Tooth decay
Halitosis
What viral infection can affect salivary glands?
Mumps
What autoimmune disease can affect the salivary glands?
Sjogrens- dry mouth, swollen/painful salivary glands
What are sialoliths?
Salivary stones in glands or ducts
