The Palate.
—The palate forms the roof of the mouth. It consists of two portions: The hard palate is in front and the soft palate is in the back.
The Salivary Glands.
—By the term salivary glands is usually understood the three chief glands on each side of the face.
The parotid gland is placed near the ear. The submaxillary gland is placed below the jaw. The sublingual gland is placed below the tongue.
These glands secrete the salival juices which are brought into the mouth by three small ducts, where it aids in the digestion of the food. The digestive action of the saliva is limited to the starchy foods. Its action is to change starches into sugars.
Fig. 21—Passage into trachea and esophagus; Pharynx.
It also fulfills other important functions. By moistening the food it enables us to reduce the material to a consistency suitable for swallowing and for manipulation by the tongue and other muscles. The saliva also serves as a kind of lubricator that insures the smooth passage along oesophageal canal.