Klarinet Archive - Posting 000745.txt from 2000/10

From: "Diane Karius" <Dkarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Warping Reeds
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 11:23:38 -0400

Sure - chapter and verse is my favorite thing: =20

When formed, saliva is neutral (or nearly so, during resting periods) or =
alkaline (pH ~ 8 during a meal) due to the addition of bicarbonate. =
(Ganong, Review of Medical Physiology, p. 467; 1999). The enzyme =
produced by the salivary glands include lingual lipase (works on lipids) =
and salivary amylase (works on starches). =20

Salivary amylase breaks the alpha 1,4 linkages connecting the glucose =
molecules that make up the starches (ibid, p. 448). Plant material, =
particularly the cell wall, is made up of cellulose, which is glucose =
linked together in a 1,4 BETA linkage. Salivary amylase CANNOT work on =
that and thus will not attack that part of the reed (thus providing us =
with the existence of dietary fiber)

As a note: between meals, if you just stick a pH paper on your tongue you =
may record an acidic pH: the action of bacteria in the mouth tends to =
acidify the mouth. The increased secretion that occurs when you "wet" =
the reed should neutralize this pretty quickly. =20

Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.=20
Department of Physiology
University of Health Sciences
1750 Independence Ave.=20
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816)-283-2219
dkarius@-----.edu
www.uhsweb.edu/physio

>>> dnietham@-----.edu 10/12/00 11:03PM >>>
on 10/12/00 12:06 AM, Gary Truesdail wrote:

>Saliva contains minerals and some acids which can dissolve some of the =
=20
>material in the cane.

Just a small point - it is my memory from this list that saliva is =
*not*=20
acidic, but instead neutral. It does not contain any enzymes that would=20
break down reed fibers. Can one of the scientists cite chapter and verse?

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu=20
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/=20

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org=20
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org=20
Unsubscribe from the Digest: klarinet-digest-unsubscribe@-----.org=
=20
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org=20
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org=20

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org