\Sa*li"va\, n. [L.; cf. Gr. ?.] (Physiol.)
The secretion from the salivary glands.
Note: In man the saliva is a more or less turbid and slighty
      viscid fluid, generally of an alkaline reaction, and is
      secreted by the parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual
      glands. In the mouth the saliva is mixed with the
      secretion from the buccal glands. The secretions from
      the individual salivary glands have their own special
      characteristics, and these are not the same in all
      animals. In man and many animals mixed saliva, i.e.,
      saliva composed of the secretions of all three of the
      salivary glands, is an important digestive fluid on
      account of the presence of the peculiar enzyme,
      ptyalin.