Oral Cavity and Associated Structures Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomy, structure, nerve supply, and clinical aspects of the oral cavity, teeth, palate, and tongue based on the lecture notes.

Oral Cavity

Extends anteroposteriorly from the lips to the oral pharyngeal isthmus and is divided into the vestibule and the oral cavity proper.

Vestibule

A smaller slit-like space of the mouth located outside the teeth/gums and inside the lips/cheeks.

Oral cavity proper

The large space within the mouth situated inside the teeth and gums.

Retromolar region

A small gap behind the 3rd molar teeth and the ramus of the mandible through which the vestibule communicates with the oral cavity proper.

Parotid duct opening

Located in the vestibule opposite the crown of the 2nd molar tooth.

Vermillion border

The hairless red area of the lips that contains no sweat glands or sebaceous glands.

Orbicularis oculi

Identified in the transcript as the core of the lips.

Labial mucosa

The inner surface of the lip facing the gums and teeth, composed of stratified non-keratinised epithelium.

Labial frenulum

A median fold that attaches each lip to the gum between the anterior incisors.

Infraorbital nerve

A branch of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve that provides the nerve supply to the upper lip.

Mental nerve

A branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve that provides the nerve supply to the lower lip.

Nasolabial sulcus

The furrow extending from the side of the nose to the angle of the mouth, marking the junction between the cheek and the lip.

Buccinator muscle

The muscle that largely composes the structure of the cheeks and is covered by buccopharyngeal fascia.

Buccal pad of fat

One of the layers of the cheek located between the buccopharyngeal fascia and the superficial fascia.

Gingiva

Fibrous tissue covered with a smooth vascular mucous membrane that envelops the alveolar processes of the jaws and the necks of the teeth.

Primary (deciduous) teeth

The first set of teeth, totaling $20$, which start appearing at $6\,\text{months}$ and fall out between $2-6\,\text{years}$.

Permanent teeth

The second set of teeth, totaling $32$, which usually appear by the end of adolescence.

Anatomical crown

The part of the tooth covered by the enamel.

Clinical enamel

The part of the tooth that projects into the oral cavity.

Root

The part of the tooth embedded within the socket of the jaw beneath the gum.

Pulp

The inner core of a tooth containing soft tissue, blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.

Odontoblasts

A layer of tall columnar cells that cover the pulp.

Dentine

The calcified material surrounding the pulp cavity that forms the basis of the tooth.

Enamel

Densely calcified white material made of crystalline prisms that covers the crown; it is the hardest substance in the body.

Cementum

The bony covering over the neck and root of the tooth.

Periodontal membrane

Connective tissue present between the cementum and the socket that acts as periosteum and holds the tooth in place.

Incisors

Found as $4$ in each jaw, these teeth are designed to cut food with their cutting edges.

Canines

Two per jaw, situated lateral to the incisors, used for holding and tearing food.

Premolars

Four in each jaw ($2$ on each side) that assist in crushing food.

Molars

Six in each jaw ($3$ on each side) used for crushing food.

Permanent Dental Formula

$$\frac{2I, 1C, 2P, 3M}{2I, 1C, 2P, 3M} \times 2 = 32$$

Deciduous Dental Formula

$$\frac{2I, 1C, 2M}{2I, 1C, 2M} \times 2 = 20$$

Mylohyoid muscles

Two muscles that form the muscular diaphragm of the floor of the mouth.

Sublingual region

The anterior part of the floor of the mouth between the ventral surface of the anterior $\frac{2}{3}$ of the tongue and the floor of the mouth.

Sublingual papilla

An elevation on each side of the frenulum linguae where the submandibular duct opens.

Sublingual fold

An elevation in the mucous membrane produced by the sublingual gland, upon which the sublingual ducts open.

Hard palate

The anterior $\frac{2}{3}$ of the roof of the mouth made of the palatine processes of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

Soft palate

A mobile muscular flap forming the posterior $\frac{1}{3}$ of the palate, which hangs from the hard palate and separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx.

Uvula

A small, conical, tongue-like projection hanging down from the middle of the soft palate.

Palatoglossal fold

The anterior fold of the soft palate containing the palatoglossus muscle, forming the lateral boundary of the oropharyngeal isthmus.

Palatopharyngeal fold

The posterior fold of the soft palate containing the palatopharyngeus muscle, forming the posterior boundary of the tonsillar fossa.

Tensor palati

One of the five pairs of soft palate muscles; it is the only soft palate muscle supplied by the mandibular nerve.

Levator palati

One of the five pairs of soft palate muscles, involved in elevating the soft palate.

Sulcus terminalis

A V-shaped groove that divides the dorsal surface of the tongue into an anterior $\frac{2}{3}$ and a posterior $\frac{1}{3}$.

Foramen caecum

A blind hole found at the apex of the sulcus terminalis on the tongue.

Vallate papillae

Large papillae arranged in a V-shaped row ($8-12$ in number) in front of the sulcus terminalis, containing taste buds.

Filiform papillae

The most numerous and narrowest papillae on the tongue; they are the only type that does not have taste buds.

Fungiform papillae

Papillae with red rounded heads and taste buds, concentrated along the margins of the tongue.

Lingual tonsil

Lymphatic follicles located in the submucosa of the pharyngeal ($1/3$) part of the tongue.

Epiglottic vallecula

The space situated on each side of the median glossoepiglottic fold.

Plica fimbriata

A fringed fold of mucous membrane on the ventral surface of the tongue, lateral to the lingual vein.

Genioglossus

An extrinsic tongue muscle originating from the superior mental spines that protrudes the tongue and depresses its center.

Hyoglossus

An extrinsic tongue muscle originating from the hyoid bone that depresses the tongue.

Styloglossus

An extrinsic tongue muscle originating from the styloid process that elevates and retracts the tongue.

Lingual artery

The chief artery of the tongue, giving off deep lingual and dorsal lingual branches.

Hypoglossal nerve [XII]

The nerve that provides motor supply to all intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue except the palatoglossus.

Chorda tympani nerve

A branch of the facial nerve that carries special sensations of taste from the anterior $\frac{2}{3}$ of the tongue.

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Supplies the posterior $\frac{1}{3}$ of the tongue with both general sensations and special sensations of taste.

Internal laryngeal nerve

Supplies the posteriormost part (base) of the tongue with special sensations of taste.

Ankyloglossia

A clinical condition known as tongue-tie caused by a large frenulum.