Saliva production
innervation
Parasympathetic
- Originate in salivatory nuclei
- Parotid gland → CN IX via otic ganglion
- other glands above oral fissure: greater petrosal nerve of facial nerve
- preganglionic fibres synapse in pterygopalatine ganglion
- postganglionic fibres join maxillary nerve
- other glands below oral fissure: chorda tympani of facial nerve
- preganglionic fibres synapse in submandibular ganglion
- postganglionic fibres travel directly to glands
sympathetic
- origin: T1
- preganglionic fibres synapse in Superior cervical ganglion
- postganglionic fibres 'hop onto adjacent blood vessels and nerves' lol
| Parasym | Sympathetic |
|---|---|
| ↑ volume saliva | ↑ amylase secretion, ↓ water content |
composition
- parotid - mostly serous
- submandibular, sublingual - serous and mucus
- buccal - mucus
1000ml/day
ions
- high K, high HCO3
enzymes
- amylase
- lipase
- kallikrein - splits alpha-2 globulin to bradyknin = vasodilation = ↑ blood supply to glands
immune role
- IgA antibodies
- lysozyme - bacteriocidal