Oral Cavity, Tongue, Teeth, and Pharynx - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on the oral cavity, tongue, teeth, and pharynx.

Isthmus of Fauces

Narrow passage that connects the oral cavity to the oropharynx; boundary between oral cavity and pharynx.

Soft palate

Muscular posterior portion (velum palatinum) that closes the nasopharynx during swallowing; contains muscles such as levator veli palatini and tensor veli palatini.

Uvula

Fleshy projection from the posterior edge of the soft palate; helps close the nasopharynx.

Palatopharyngeal arch

Arch of mucosa spanning from the soft palate to the pharynx; contains palatopharyngeus muscle.

Palatine tonsil

Lymphoid tissue in the tonsillar fossa between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches; part of Waldeyer’s ring.

Pharyngeal tonsil

Tonsil located on the nasopharyngeal wall; part of Waldeyer’s ring.

Lingual tonsil

Tonsil located on the posterior surface of the tongue; part of Waldeyer’s ring.

Waldeyer’s ring

Ring of lymphoid tissue around the pharynx formed by the pharyngeal, tubal, palatine, and lingual tonsils.