saliva

(sS-li'vah) [L.] Spittle; a clear, tastele , odorle , slightly alkaline, viscid fluid, consisting of the secretion from the parotid, sublingual, and submaxillary salivary glands and the mucous glands of the oral cavity; its function is to keep the mucous membrane of the mouth moist, to lubricate the food during mastication, and, in a measure, to convert starch into maltose, the latter action being effected by a diastatic enzyme, ptyalin. chorda s., the secretion of the submaxillary gland obtained by stimulation of the chorda tympani nerve, ganglion'ic s., submaxillary s. obtained by direct irritation of the gland, rest'ing s., the saliva found in the mouth in the intervals of food taking and mastication, s. pump, dental pump.* sympathet'ic s., submaxillary s. obtained by stimulation of the sympathetic.