Page 5 - Head and neck surgery

Salivary glands can be classified as serous,

mucous or mixed seromucous.

In serous secretions, the main type of

protein secreted is alpha-amylase – an

enzyme that breaks down starch into

maltose and glucose.

In mucous secretions, the main protein

secreted is mucin, which acts as a lubricant.

Humans produce ~ 0.5 - 1.5 litres of saliva

every day via major and minor salivary
Mark Braun, MD, & Indiana University:
glands. http://medsci.indiana.edu/c602web/602/c602web/toc.htm;

http://www.indiana.edu/~anat215/virtualscope2/start.htm