Physiological control and

Mechanism of Salivation
Dr Oyetola Elijah
Senior Lecturer/Consultant Oral
medicine, OAU/OAUTHC
 Introduction
• Saliva in the mouth is a biofluid produced
mainly by three pairs of major salivary glands--
the submandibular, parotid and sublingual
glands as well as with secretions from many
minor submucosal salivary glands
• About 1-1.5Liter is produced daily and the
secretion is guided by some physiological
controls
• Salivary secretion is a product of unilateral
movement of fluid, electrolytes and
macromolecules into saliva in response to
appropriate stimulation
• Salivary gland secretion is a nerve-mediated
reflex
 Saliva Formation: 2 Stage model
• Stage 1
– Acini cell secrete a NaCl-rich fluid called primary saliva, this is
isotonic to plasma
– The substrate is obtained from the plasma via the blood supply
• Stage 2
– Modification of primary saliva as the saliva pass through the
ductal tree
– Modification involves secretion and reabsorption of ions into
the primary saliva
– The ductal epithelium is poorly permeable to water
– Final saliva is thus Hypotonic
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 The Volume Secreted depends on
• Type of taste
• Intensity of taste
• Chemosensory stimulation
• Masticatory stimulation
• Tactile stimulation
• Anxiety
• The quality (ions) of saliva depends on the
degree of modification process
• Saliva gland acinar cells are chloride and
sodium secreting, and the isotonic fluid
produced is rendered hypotonic by salivary
gland duct cells as it flows to the mouth
• The major proteins present in saliva are
secreted by salivary glands, creating
viscoelasticity and enabling the coating of oral
surfaces with saliva
• The nerve-mediated salivary reflex is
modulated by nerve signals from other centers
in the central nervous system, which is most
obvious as hyposalivation at times of anxiety
• An example of other neurohormonal
influences on the salivary reflex is the circadian
rhythm, which affects salivary flow and ionic
composition
 Physiological Controls-Nerve Stimulation

• NERVE STIMULATION
• Effects of nervous system on saliva production
• Interplay of adrenergic and non adrenergic
stimulation
 Physiological control- Neurohormonal
influences
• Typical example is Circadian rhythm / diurnal
variation
• A circadian rhythm is any biological process
that displays an endogenous, entrainable
oscillation of about 24 hours
• A diurnal rhythm is a biological rhythm that is
synchronized with the day/night cycle. It may
or may not be a circadian rhythm
• A diurnal rhythm is a biological rhythm that is
synchronized with the day/night cycle. It may
or may not be a  circadian rhythm.
• A biological rhythm is considered a circadian if
these three criteria are met:
– (1) an endogenous free-running (approximately)
24-hour period,
– (2) a rhythm that is entrainable, i.e. capable
of phase reset by environmental cues and
synchronization to the 24-h day, and
– (3) exhibiting temperature compensation
 diurnal variation
• Protein concentration tends to be high in the
afternoon
• Sodium and chloride concentration are high in
early hour of the morning
• K high in the afternoon
• Ca and phosphate appear stable during the day
• Calcium concentration increase during the night
Physiological control- Duration of stimulation

• If salivary gland are stimulated for longer than

three minutes, the concentration of many
components are reduced.
• However, after a short period bicarbonate,
calcium and protein concentration begin to
rise again
 Dietry Factors
• Brought about by
– Gustatory factors
– Mechanical stimulation
 Plasma concentration
• Amino acid, calcium, glucose and urea are
correlated with the plasma concentration
 CONCLUSION
• Saliva secretion is in two stages: secretion
and ,modification
• Nerve stimulation, circadian rhythm, diets,
and neurohormonal influences affect the
production of saliva
• THANK YOU