bodily secretion saliva A fluid produced in the oral cavity by salivary glands, typically used in predigestion, but also in other functions. BTO:0001202 CALOHA:TS-0891 EMAPA:36536 ENVO:02000036 FMA:59862 GAID:1167 MA:0002507 MAT:0000444 MESH:D012463 OpenCyc:Mx4rvVjJ95wpEbGdrcN5Y29ycA UBERON:0001836 UMLS:C0036087 We classify a wide variety of not necessarily homologous fluids here. In humans, the saliva is a turbid and slightly viscous fluid, generally of an alkaline reaction, and is secreted by the parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual glands. In the mouth the saliva is mixed with the secretion from the buccal glands. In man and many animals, saliva is an important digestive fluid on account of the presence of the peculiar enzyme, ptyalin galen:Saliva sailva normalis saliva atomaris saliva molecularis salivary salivary gland secretion uberon