2. What is
saliva ?
Saliva is the watery liquid in mouths of living beings. It kills
bacteria, helps to prevent tooth decay, begins the digestion
of food, helps us to speak and to swallow food.
4. Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology, 11e 5
• Parotid below your ear and over the masseter.
• Sub-mandibular is under lower edge of mandible.
• Sublingual is deep to the tongue in floor of mouth.
Salivary
Glands
5. Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology, 11e 6
Salivary Glands’ Cellular Structure
• Cells in acini (clusters).
• Serous cells secrete a watery fluid.
• Mucous cells (pale staining) secrete a slimy,
mucus secretion.
6. Secretory Unit (salivon)
The basic unit “salivon” consists of:
Acinus -initial secretory process
Intercalated duct
Striated duct -modification of secretory
product
Myoepithelial cells
surround acinus and intercalated duct
contraction moves saliva, prevents
development of back pressure
7. TWO STAGE HYPOTHESIS
OF SALIVA FORMATION
Water &
electrolytes
Isotonic
primary saliva
Most proteins
Some proteins electrolytes
Na+ Cl- resorbed
K+ secreted
Hypotonic
final saliva
into mouth
9. Unique aspects of control of salivary
secretion
Secretion rate depends entirely on neural control
–ANS.
Both Parasympathetic and Sympathetic systems
lead to increased secretion.
Composition modified by Aldosterone.
increases Na, Cl reabsoption
increases K secretion
10. Parasympathetic
Origin:
salivary nucleus in medulla.
Outflow:
CN VII & IX.
Transmitter:
Ach.
Increased stimulation in response to-
conditioned reflexes (taste, smell).
Decreased stimulation due to-
sleep, fear, dehydration.
15. Characteristics of Saliva and Flow Rate
• Daily secretion = 800-
1500 ml.
• PH = 6-7.
• The submandibular
gland contributes around
70–75% of secretion,
while the parotid
gland secretes about 20–
25% and small amounts
are secreted from the
other salivary glands.
16. A CONSIDERABLE VOLUME OF SALIVA IS
PRODUCED…
0.5 to 1.5 liter of fluid is secreted in a
day.
This represents about 1/5 of the total
plasma volume.
This fluid is not lost as most of it is
swallowed and reabsorbed by the gut.
17. Variations in salivary composition
• Unstimulated flow
– Submandibular g. 70%
– Parotid g. 20%
– Accesory g. 7%
– Sublingual 2%
• Acid stimulation
– Submandibular g. 45%
– Parotid g. 45%
• Chewing
– Submandibular g. 30%
– Parotid g. 60%
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
sub
mandibular
parotid
sub lingual
18.
19. 20
CIRCAIDIAN RHYTHM OF SALIVA FLOW
No sleep
sleep
12 am 6 am 12 pm 6 pm 12 am 6 am 12 pm 6 pm 12 am
30
20
10
Time of day
20. 21
Effect of feeding on salivary secretion
0
0.005
0.01
0.015
0.02
0.025
0.03
0.035
Volumeofsalivacollectecdeach10min
10 min collection periods
Meal
during
this
period
23. Chronology of defining salivary
components and functions
• Beginning in 1950’s whole saliva was evaluated
(antimicrobial properties, role in microbial
attachment, mineralization, taste and
lubrication)
• In 1970’s individual components isolated and
biochemically characterized.
• In mid-1980’s beginning to map functional
domains (peptide synthesis and recombinant
approaches).
26. Calcium and phosphate
• Help to prevent dissolution of dental enamel.
• Calcium
– 1.4 mmol/l (1.7 mmol/l in stimulated saliva)
– only 50% in ionic form
– sublingual > submandibular > parotid
• Phosphate
– 6 mmol/l (4 mmol/l in stimulated saliva)
– 90% in ionic form
• pH around 6 - hydroxyapatite is unlikely to
dissolve
• Increase of pH - precipitation of calcium salts
=> dental calculus
27. Hydrogen bicarbonate
• Buffer.
• Low in unstimulated saliva, increases with
flow rate.
• Pushes pH of stimulated saliva up to 8.
(pH 5,6 critical for dissolution of enamel)
• Defence against acids produced by cariogenic
bacteria.
• Derived actively from CO2 by carbonic
anhydrase.
28. Other Ions
• Fluoride
–Low concentration, similar to plasma.
• Thiocyanate
–Antibacterial.
–Higher conc. => lower incidence of caries.
–Smokers - increased conc.
• Sodium, potassium, chloride
• Lead, cadmium, copper
–May reflect systemic concentrations –
diagnostics.
31. MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF SALIVA
• Solvent.
• Buffering.
• Lubrication.
• Remineralization.
• Digestion.
• Anti-bacterial.
• Anti-fungal.
• Temperature regulation.
• Production of growth factors and other regulatory peptides.
33. Mucins
• Lubrication.
• Hydrophilic, entrapping water (resists
dehydration).
• Unique rheological properties (e.g., high
elasticity, adhesiveness, and low solubility).
• Two major mucins (MG1 and MG2).
34. • Tissue Coating
– Protective coating about hard and soft tissues.
– Primary role in formation of acquired pellicle.
– Concentrates anti-microbial molecules at mucosal
interface.
35. Amylases
• Calcium metalloenzymes.
• Hydrolyzes (1-4) bonds of starches such as amylose and
amylopectin.
• Maltose is the major end-product (20% is glucose).
• 30% of total protein is from parotid gland.
• “Appears” to have digestive function - inactivated in stomach,
provides disaccharides for acid-producing bacteria.
• A role in modulating bacterial adherence.
36. Lingual Lipase
• Secreted by lingual glands and parotid
glands.
• Involved in the first phase of fat digestion.
• Hydrolyzes medium- to long-chain
triglycerides.
• Important in digestion of milk fat in new-
borns.
• Unlike other mammalian lipases, it is highly
hydrophobic and readily enters fat globules
37. Statherins
• Supersaturation of calcium phosphates
maintain enamel integrity.
• Statherins prevent precipitation or
crystallization of supersaturated calcium
phosphate in ductal saliva and oral fluid.
• Produced by acinar cells in salivary glands.
• Also an effective lubricant.
38. Proline-rich Proteins (PRPs)
• 40% of AAs is proline.
• Inhibitors of calcium phosphate crystal growth.
• Subdivided into three groups.
– Acidic 45%
– Basic 30%
– Glycosylated 25%
39. Lactoferrin
• Iron-binding protein.
• Batericidal, fungicidal, anti- protozoal, anti-
viral, catalytic, anti allergic, anti cancer and
radio protective function.
• It belongs to innate immune system.
40. Lysozyme
• Present in numerous organs and most body
fluids.
• Also called muramidase.
• hydrolysis of (1-4) bond between N-
acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine
in the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria.
– Gram negative bacteria generally more resistant
than gram positive because of outer LPS layer
41. Histatins
• A group of small histidine-rich proteins.
• Potent inhibitors of Candida albicans
growth.
42. Cystatins
• Are inhibitors of cysteine-proteases.
• Are ubiquitous in many body fluids.
• Considered to be protective against unwanted
proteolysis
– bacterial proteases
– lysed leukocytes
• May inhibit proteases in periodontal tissues.
• Also have an effect on calcium phosphate
precipitation.
43. Salivary peroxidase systems
• Sialoperoxidase (SP, salivary peroxidase)
– Produced in acinar cells of parotid glands.
– Also present in submandibular saliva.
– Readily adsorbed to various surfaces of mouth
• enamel, salivary sediment, bacteria, dental plaque
• Myeloperoxidase (MP)
– From leukocytes entering via gingival crevice
– 15-20% of total peroxidase in whole saliva
44. Interesting facts about saliva.
A mosquito injects a saliva containing anticoagulant when it bites.
Some birds make a sticky saliva which helps them build their
nests. The saliva is used to stick materials together.
Some swiftlets make their nests entirely out of their saliva, which
is gummy and hardens when exposed to air.
45. Summary - Clinical Highlights
• Understanding of salivary mechanisms at
fundamental level a prerequisite for
–effective treatment of salivary gland
dysfunctions.
–modulation of bacterial colonization.
–development of artificial saliva other
“cutting edge” approaches to salivary
dysfunctions and diseases.
50. Analysis of Saliva is done for the diagnosis of the
following
1.Hereditary diseases
2.Auto immune disease
3.Infection
4.Malignancy
5.Monitoring hormone levels
6.Monitoring drug levels
7.Bone turnover markers
8.Forensic evidence
9.Dental caries and periodontal diseases
10.Diagnosis of oral diseases with relevance for
systemic diseases
51. Spit screening
Granger et al have proposed a saliva test to replace the standard
blood test. According to the researchers, spit contains the same
protein, CRP, that indicates a risk of heart disease when found in
blood at elevated levels.
Genetic spitprint
Your spit contains your entire genetic blueprint, and in a form that
may be easier to work with than DNA extracted by other methods
Spit exposure to infants
It may be coming back in vogue in the West, too, thanks to
research indicating a mother's saliva helps boost her infant's
immune system.
52. TAKE HOME SOCIAL MESSGAE
NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE,
SPITTING IN PUBLIC IS NOT
OKAY