Final answer:
The salivary gland is the accessory organ that provides water, mucus, and enzymes to the mouth, facilitating digestion and maintaining oral health. It includes major glands like the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual, as well as minor glands, and secretes enzymes such as amylase and lipase.
Step-by-step explanation:
Salivary Glands and Digestion
The accessory gland that provides water, mucus, and enzymes to the mouth is known as the salivary gland. Within the oral cavity, there are three major salivary glands: the parotid, the submandibular, and the sublingual glands. These exocrine glands secrete saliva into the mouth through ducts, playing a crucial role in both digestion and oral health.
Saliva serves several functions—it moistens food to aid in the formation of a bolus for swallowing, contains mucus that acts as a buffer, and includes enzymes like amylase and lipase for the chemical digestion of food. Amylase begins the breakdown of carbohydrates, converting starches and glycogen into simpler sugars such as maltose, while lipase, produced by the tongue, starts the digestion of fats.
These glands are not only limited to the major salivary glands. Hundreds of minor salivary glands located within the oral mucosa lining and the tongue also contribute to saliva production, which contains digestive enzymes and has antibacterial properties provided by immunoglobulins and lysozymes to reduce tooth decay.