Question

The sight of delicious food usually makes mouth watery, it is a
(a) Hormonal response
(b) Neural response
(c) Optic response
(d) Olfactory response

Answer 1

Hint: Not only the sight but also the smell and sound of delicious food causes stimulation in our body which results in the secretion of saliva that makes the mouth watery. This is because the body starts preparing for digestion beforehand itself and thus releases saliva.

Complete Answer:
The process of mouth-watering due to the presence of delicious food is known as salivation and it is a neural process. It is a neural reflex i.e. involuntary. Saliva is produced from the salivary gland which is a liquid substance that contains mucus and salivary amylase in it. It also contains lysozyme which acts as an antibacterial agent thus preventing infections in the mouth. The pH of saliva is around 6.5 which is optimal for the function of amylase which breaks starch into maltose.

Additional information: Let us learn about the glands that produce saliva i.e. salivary glands.
Parotid gland: It is the largest salivary gland and is present below the ears and the corner most part of the cheeks. The major duct by which saliva is secreted into the mouth is known as the Stenson duct. It gets highly swollen in infections like mumps.
Submandibular gland: This gland is present below the jaw and secretes saliva through the Wharton duct.
Sublingual gland: This is the smallest salivary gland and is present below the tongue and secretes saliva through the ducts of Rivinus.
So, the correct option is ‘(b) Neural response’.

Note:
- Excessive saliva can also be produced as a symptom in the cases of pregnancy, acid reflux, excessive starch intake, etc.
- The 9th cranial nerve known as the glossopharyngeal nerve is responsible for salivation and swallowing of food.
- Vestibule is the area present between the teeth, lips, and cheeks in which the secretions of the parotid gland are drained out.