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Saliva serves many roles, some of which are important to all species:

a) Lubrication and binding: the mucus in saliva is extremely effective in binding masticated food into a slippery bolus that (usually) slides easily through the esophagus without inflicting damage to the mucosa.

b) Initiates starch digestion: in most species, the serous acinar cells secrete an alpha-amylase which can begin to digest dietary starch into maltose.

c) Solubilises dry food

d) Provides alkaline buffering medium for food

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