Ch 1, 2, & 15 Dental Anatomy

Dental anatomy

The study of the morphology, or form, of the crowns and roots of teeth.

Frontal region

The forehead and the area superior to the eyes.

Orbital region

The eye and supporting structures contained within the bony eye socket, or orbit.

Nasal region

The nose and its surrounding structures.

Infraorbital region

The facial region located inferior to the orbit.

Zygomatic region

The cheekbone region of the face.

Buccal region

The cheek region of the face.

Oral region

The region of the face containing the lips and oral cavity.

Mental region

The chin region of the face.

Naris

One nostril; the plural form is nares.

Nares

The nostrils.

Nasal septum

The midline structure that separates the right and left nares.

Ala

The winglike cartilage forming the lateral border of one nostril; the plural form is alae.

Mucocutaneous junction

The transition between the skin and lip mucosa at the vermilion border.

Vermilion border

The line where the skin of the face meets the red or darker portion of the lip.

Vermilion zone

The red or darker inner zone of a lip.

Philtrum

The vertical midline groove extending from the nasal septum to the upper lip.

Tubercle of the upper lip

The thicker midline area of the upper lip where the philtrum ends.

Labial commissure

The corner of the mouth where the upper and lower lips meet.

Maxilla

The upper jaw.

Mandible

The lower jaw and the only movable bone of the skull.

Angle of the mandible

The sharp angle of the lower jaw located inferior to the earlobe.

Nasolabial groove

The groove extending from the side of the nose toward the upper lip and cheek.

Labiomarginal groove

The groove extending from the corner of the mouth toward the lower face.

Labiomental groove

The horizontal groove between the lower lip and the chin.

Oral cavity

The mouth; divided into the oral vestibules, jaws with teeth, and oral cavity proper.

Oral vestibule

The horseshoe-shaped space between the lips or cheeks and the teeth and gingiva.

Oral cavity proper

The part of the mouth located inside the dental arches; contains the palate, tongue, and floor of the mouth.

Anterior boundary of the oral cavity

The lips.

Posterior boundary of the oral cavity

The fauces leading into the pharynx or throat.

Lateral boundaries of the oral cavity

The cheeks.

Superior boundary of the oral cavity

The palate.

Inferior boundary of the oral cavity

The floor-of-the-mouth muscles.

Facial

Toward or closest to the facial surface; a broad term that includes labial and buccal.

Labial

Toward or closest to the lips; commonly used for anterior teeth.

Buccal

Toward or closest to the inner cheek; commonly used for posterior teeth.

Lingual

Toward or closest to the tongue.

Palatal

Toward or closest to the palate; used for maxillary structures or teeth.

Oral mucosa

The mucous membrane lining the oral cavity.

Labial mucosa

The mucosa lining the inner surface of the lips.

Buccal mucosa

The mucosa lining the inner surface of the cheeks.

Vestibular fornix

The deepest portion of an oral vestibule.

Mucobuccal fold

The junction where the labial or buccal mucosa meets the alveolar mucosa.

Alveolar mucosa

The thin, redder, movable mucosa covering the alveolar process.

Labial frenum

A midline fold connecting the labial mucosa with the alveolar mucosa; plural is frena.

Buccal frenum

A lateral fold connecting the cheek mucosa with the alveolar mucosa.

Parotid papilla

A small elevation opposite the maxillary second molar that protects the opening of the parotid duct.

Parotid duct

The duct of the parotid salivary gland that opens at the parotid papilla; also called Stensen duct.

Linea alba

A white line on the buccal mucosa commonly located at the occlusal plane.

Fordyce granules

Visible ectopic sebaceous glands that are considered a common normal variation.

Maxillary tuberosity

The rounded area located posterior to the last maxillary molar.

Retromolar pad

The soft-tissue area located posterior to the last mandibular molar.

Body of the maxilla

The portion of the maxilla located superior to the teeth that contains the maxillary sinus.

Body of the mandible

The heavy horizontal portion of the lower jaw located inferior to the teeth.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

The movable articulation between the mandible and the temporal bone.

Alveolar process

The bony extension of the maxilla or mandible that contains the tooth sockets; also called alveolar bone.

Alveolus

One tooth socket within the alveolar process.

Periodontal ligament (PDL)

Fibrous tissue that attaches a tooth to its alveolus, supports it, and permits slight movement.

Quadrant 1

The patient's maxillary right quadrant.

Quadrant 2

The patient's maxillary left quadrant.

Quadrant 3

The patient's mandibular left quadrant.

Quadrant 4

The patient's mandibular right quadrant.

Gingiva

The soft tissue surrounding the teeth and covering the alveolar processes.

Marginal gingiva

The unattached cuff of gingiva around the neck of a tooth; also called free gingiva.

Free gingiva

Another name for marginal gingiva, which forms a cuff around the neck of a tooth.

Attached gingiva

Firm gingiva that is bound to the underlying bone.

Interdental gingiva

The gingival tissue occupying the space between adjacent teeth.

Interdental papilla

A pointed extension of interdental gingiva between two adjacent teeth.

Fauces

The posterior opening from the oral cavity into the pharynx.

Anterior faucial pillar

The anterior tissue fold forming one lateral boundary of the fauces.

Posterior faucial pillar

The posterior tissue fold forming one lateral boundary of the fauces.

Palatine tonsils

Lymphoid tissue located between the anterior and posterior faucial pillars.

Hard palate

The firm anterior portion of the roof of the mouth.

Soft palate

The movable, muscular posterior portion of the palate.

Uvula

The midline muscular structure hanging from the posterior margin of the soft palate.

Incisive papilla

A small tissue bulge on the anterior hard palate, lingual to the anterior teeth.

Median palatine raphe

The midline ridge extending from the incisive papilla toward the pharynx and overlying the bony fusion of the palate.

Palatine rugae

Firm, irregular ridges radiating from the incisive papilla and median palatine raphe.

Fovea palatinae

Two small depressions near the junction of the hard and soft palates.

Palatine glands

Minor salivary glands located mainly in the posterior palate.

Palatal torus

A normal bony variation located along the midline of the hard palate.

Tongue

A broad muscular organ used for speech, mastication, swallowing, and taste.

Body of the tongue

The anterior two-thirds of the tongue located in the oral cavity proper.

Base of the tongue

The posterior one-third of the tongue; also called the pharyngeal part.

Apex of the tongue

The tip of the tongue.

Dorsal surface of the tongue

The top surface of the tongue, which is covered with lingual papillae.

Ventral surface of the tongue

The shiny underside of the tongue where large blood vessels are visible.

Median lingual sulcus

The midline depression on the dorsal surface of the tongue.

Sulcus terminalis

The inverted V-shaped groove separating the body of the tongue from its base.

Foramen cecum

The small pit at the posterior point of the sulcus terminalis.

Lingual tonsil

Lymphoid tissue located on the posterior base of the tongue.

Deep lingual veins

Large blood vessels visible near the surface of the ventral tongue.

Plica fimbriata

A fringelike fold located lateral to each deep lingual vein on the ventral tongue.

Lingual papillae

Small raised structures of specialized mucosa on the tongue; some contain taste buds.

Filiform papillae

Numerous slender, threadlike, whitish papillae that create the tongue's velvety texture and have a mainly mechanical function.

Fungiform papillae

Small reddish, mushroom-shaped papillae scattered over the dorsal tongue and associated with taste buds.

Circumvallate papillae

About 10 to 14 large papillae arranged in a V immediately anterior to the sulcus terminalis.

Foliate papillae

Vertical ridges on the lateral surfaces of the tongue that are associated with taste buds.

Floor of the mouth

The area of the oral cavity proper located inferior to the ventral surface of the tongue.

Lingual frenum

The midline fold connecting the ventral surface of the tongue with the floor of the mouth.