Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: neilep on 25/11/2008 12:11:17
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Dearest Wondrous Awe Makers of Me !
Spit is my all time favourite liquidy stuff that I expel from my gob onto my TV screen to clean it when the kids have mucked it with their icky fingers !
It certainly comes up a treat !..
Spit is good
Ewe know what I mean ?
It's removed the dirt
From my TV Screen
If I was a surgeon
It would work like a dream
Sterilising my scalpel
And keeping it Clean
Yep..no case for malpractice there I see !!
So, Spit comes from some spit taps installed in my mouth yes ?..ewe have them , I have them..we all have them...even other animals have them.
What is Spit ?..is my spit the same as a cat spit ?..a Llama spit ?..is Spit Saliva ? Do dolphins Spit ?..what about a mouse ?...
As a firm believer in empirical study I gathered a hundred or so of my chums and we awaited my neighbour to step out the shower...when he was applying his haemorrhoid cream we all jumped out the wardrobe and spat on him !..I then asked him what spit was....I'm still awaiting the answer...for some strange reason he then became very slippery and slid down the stairs out the door into the street where he accidentally became tarred and feathered....
In the mean time...can ewe answer my Spit Orientated questions ?
Thank Ewe
Neil
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There is a technical term for spit, it is
saliva flob. Here are some facts:
Flob's production (in salivary flob glands) is stimulated by the presence, the smell or even the idea of food.
Flob contains a lubricant (mucin) and in some animals it contains an enzyme to start the digestion of starch - ptyalin or amylase.
Insect flob contains other digestive enzymes and blood sucking craeture's flob has an anti-coagulant in it.
Plants don't make flob but some look as if they do - that's called 'cuckoo spit' and is made by an insect of some sort.
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Llama "spit" is actually regurgitation, so I suppose it should be described as llama projectile vomit.
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There is a technical term for spit, it is saliva flob. Here are some facts:
Flob's production (in salivary flob glands) is stimulated by the presence, the smell or even the idea of food.
Flob contains a lubricant (mucin) and in some animals it contains an enzyme to start the digestion of starch - ptyalin or amylase.
Insect flob contains other digestive enzymes and blood sucking craeture's flob has an anti-coagulant in it.
Plants don't make flob but some look as if they do - that's called 'cuckoo spit' and is made by an insect of some sort.
LO..Thank Ewe Blakestyger. I do believe that I am content with your wonderful answers regarding the varieties that is the natures of different types of flob !
The 'cuckoo spit' sounds interesting !
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Llama "spit" is actually regurgitation, so I suppose it should be described as llama projectile vomit.
really ?..I did not know that..but I do now . Thank Ewe RD.
As long as they have a full tummy I can imagine a Llamas would win a ' how long can you spit for ?' marathon !....I gather they are also very good shots with their spit !
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FYI - Cuckoo Flob
Latin name: Philaenus spumarius
Size: The adult insects are between 4 and 12mms, depending on the species.
Distribution: Commonly found throughout the UK.
Months seen: April to June.
Habitat: Woodland edges and grassland.
Food: Plant sap, extracted from the leaves and stems.
Special features: Many people are familiar with the frothy mass, commonly known as "cuckoo spit", which is seen on plants in spring and early summer.
The froth is created to help protect the developing nymphs of froghoppers. The nymphs drink more plant sap than they need for growth and health. The undigested excess is then blown out of the back end, producing the froth. The froth hides them from predators.
The name "froghopper" comes from the appearance of the insect when viewed from above, which is quite frog-like. The similarity is enhanced by the insects ability to jump incredible distances.
(http://www.uksafari.com/froghopper.htm)
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FYI - Cuckoo Flob
Latin name: Philaenus spumarius
Size: The adult insects are between 4 and 12mms, depending on the species.
Distribution: Commonly found throughout the UK.
Months seen: April to June.
Habitat: Woodland edges and grassland.
Food: Plant sap, extracted from the leaves and stems.
Special features: Many people are familiar with the frothy mass, commonly known as "cuckoo spit", which is seen on plants in spring and early summer.
The froth is created to help protect the developing nymphs of froghoppers. The nymphs drink more plant sap than they need for growth and health. The undigested excess is then blown out of the back end, producing the froth. The froth hides them from predators.
The name "froghopper" comes from the appearance of the insect when viewed from above, which is quite frog-like. The similarity is enhanced by the insects ability to jump incredible distances.
(http://www.uksafari.com/froghopper.htm)
This is what I do...but with a curry ! [;)]