The parasympathetic salivatory nuclei are located in the medulla oblongata, which are under descending control from higher centers of the brain, such as the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and limbic system. Therefore, the suppression of salivary flow under stress conditions is due to inhibition in the salivatory nuclei. In addition to this mechanistic effect, the results of experimental studies suggest the existence of an inhibitory effect of the sympathetic nervous system on parasympathetic-stimulated salivary secretion from the salivary gland. In this paper, the suppressive mechanism of salivary secretion is discussed.
