Oral Cavity Anatomy - VOCABULARY Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering major anatomical features and landmarks of the oral cavity, including vestibule, gingiva, palate, tongue, and floor of the mouth.

Vestibule

Space between the lips/cheeks and teeth.

Oral cavity proper

Region inside the teeth/alveolar ridges back to the palatine tonsils.

Labial mucosa

Nonkeratinized oral mucosa lining the inner surface of the lips.

Buccal mucosa

Nonkeratinized oral mucosa lining the inner surface of the cheeks.

Parotid papilla

Small elevation on buccal mucosa where the parotid duct opens, near the maxillary second molar.

Fordyce granules

Misplaced sebaceous glands in the mucosa (lips, cheeks, retromolar pad) appearing as yellowish granules.

Gingiva

Gum tissue; normally pink but can show pigmentation in darker skin.

Alveolar mucosa

Movable mucosa lying against the alveolar bone; usually reddish due to underlying vessels.

Mucobuccal fold

Mucosa of the cheek that curves toward the gingival tissue.

Mucolabial fold

Mucosa of the lips that turns toward the gingiva.

Mucogingival junction

Boundary where alveolar mucosa becomes attached gingiva; beginning of gingiva.

Attached gingiva

Keratinized tissue tightly adherent from the free gingiva to the alveolar mucosa.

Free gingiva (free/marginal gingiva)

Mobile gingiva not attached to the tooth surface; follows the CEJ around teeth.

Free gingival groove

Shallow line at the junction of attached and free gingiva.

Gingival margin

Terminal edge of the free gingiva around the teeth.

Interdental papilla

Gingival projection between teeth.

Labial frenum

Fold of connective tissue restraining movement of lips; maxillary frenum usually more pronounced.

Diastema

Space between teeth caused by a maxillary frenum attachment.

Gingival recession

Recession of gingiva often caused when mandibular labial frenum extends toward the gingiva.

Buccal frenum

Less well-defined frena in the maxillary/mandibular canine areas at the mucobuccal fold.

Exostosis

Excess bone growth on the buccal alveolar bone.

Torus palatinus

Midline bony enlargement of the hard palate.

Torus mandibularis

Bony enlargement on the lingual aspect of the mandible, typically in the canine/premolar region.

Hard palate

Roof of the mouth; separates oral cavity from nasal cavity; contains incisive papilla and rugae.

Incisive papilla

Bulge of tissue posterior to the central incisors at the midline.

Rugae

Transverse ridges on the anterior hard palate; keratinized epithelium.

Median palatine raphe

Midline line from the incisive papilla to the posterior palate.

Maxillary tuberosity

Bulging posterior aspect of the maxillary alveolar process behind the third molars.

Tongue

Muscular organ aiding in ingestion, mastication, swallowing, and speech; has dorsum and ventrum.

Dorsum

Top surface of the tongue, with papillae and median lingual sulcus.

Ventrum

Underside of the tongue; may show lingual varicosities.

Circumvallate papillae

V-shaped row of circular papillae near the back of the tongue containing taste buds.

Foliate papillae

Ridgelike papillae on the lateral posterior tongue with few taste buds.

Fungiform papillae

Red, round papillae on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue with taste buds.

Filiform papillae

Tiny pointed projections without taste buds; keratinized epithelium.

Fissured tongue

Tongue with grooves or fissures on the dorsal surface.

Floor of mouth

Area containing the lingual frenum, sublingual caruncle, and sublingual fold; may involve ankyloglossia.

Lingual frenum (frenum)

Fold of tissue extending from near the tongue tip to the floor of the mouth.

Ankyloglossia

Tongue-tie; restricted tongue movement due to a short/thick lingual frenum.

Sublingual caruncle

Small elevation at the base of the lingual frenum; opening for ducts of submandibular and sublingual glands.

Sublingual fold

Fold of tissue extending backward on either side of the floor of the mouth.

Retromolar pad

Small elevation of tissue posterior to the mandibular third molar.

Fauces

Space between the left and right tonsils and their pillars.

Anterior faucial pillar

Prominent fold immediately in front of the palatine tonsil.

Posterior faucial pillar

Fold behind the palatine tonsil.

Pterygomandibular fold

Fold of tissue connecting the maxillary tuberosity area to the mandibular retromolar pad when the mouth is wide open.

Operculum

Flap of tissue covering a partially erupted tooth.

Palatine tonsil

Lymphoid tissue at the lateral border of the oral cavity; first line of defense against bacteria, between the anterior and posterior faucial pillars.