Salivary Gland

The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands that produce saliva through a system of ducts. Humans have three paired major salivary glands (parotid submandibular and sublingual) as well as hundreds of minor salivary glands. Salivary glands can be classified as serous mucous or seromucous (mixed).In serous secretions the main type of protein secreted is alpha-amylase an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose and glucosewhereas in mucous secretions the main protein secreted is mucin which acts as a lubricant.