1) Saliva is produced by three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, as well as numerous minor salivary glands located throughout the mouth and throat.
2) The process of producing and secreting saliva is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions.
3)When food is sensed in the mouth or when the brain signals the need for saliva, the autonomic nervous system triggers the salivary glands to produce and secrete saliva.
4)Saliva is produced by the acinar cells in the salivary glands, which filter and modify the fluid that is initially secreted.