Oral Cavity and Associated Structures

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing anatomical terms, structures, and functions related to the oral cavity, teeth, palate, tongue, and salivary glands for exam review.

Oral region

Collective term for the oral cavity, teeth, gingivae, tongue, palate, and palatine tonsils.

Oral vestibule

Space between the lips/cheeks and the teeth/gingivae.

Oral cavity proper

Area inside the dental arches; roof = palate, floor = tongue & mucosa, posteriorly communicates with oropharynx.

Lips

Musculofibrous folds (skin outside, mucosa inside) containing the orbicularis oris muscle.

Nasolabial sulcus

Shallow depression attaching the cheek to the upper lip.

Mentolabial sulcus

Shallow depression attaching the chin region to the lower lip.

Labial frenulum

Midline mucosal fold connecting vestibular gingiva to each lip.

Philtrum

Midline vertical groove between nose and upper vermilion (Cupid’s bow).

Vermilion

Exposed red portion of the upper and lower lips.

Gingivae

Fibrous tissue covered by oral mucosa surrounding the bases of the teeth.

Deciduous teeth

The 20 primary teeth present in children.

Permanent teeth

The 32 adult teeth that replace deciduous teeth.

Incisors

Teeth with thin cutting edges used for shearing food.

Canines

Single-coned teeth used for tearing food.

Premolars (bicuspids)

Teeth with two cusps designed for grinding and crushing.

Molars

Large teeth with three or more cusps for powerful grinding.

Vestibular (labial/buccal) surface

Tooth surface facing lips or cheeks (outward).

Lingual surface

Tooth surface facing the tongue (inward).

Mesial surface

Contact surface directed toward the midline of the dental arch.

Distal surface

Contact surface directed away from the midline of the arch.

Occlusal surface

Masticatory surface where upper and lower teeth meet.

Crown of tooth

Visible part projecting above gingivae and covered by enamel.

Neck of tooth

Constricted region between crown and root.

Root of tooth

Portion embedded in alveolar socket, covered by cementum.

Dentine

Bulk of tooth structure; surrounds pulp cavity.

Enamel

Hardest substance in the human body; covers dentine of crown.

Cementum

Bone-like material covering dentine of the root.

Pulp cavity

Central space containing connective tissue, vessels, and nerves.

Root canal

Canal transmitting vessels and nerves through the root’s apical foramen.

Periodontium

Collagen fibers between cementum and alveolar bone anchoring the tooth.

Periodontal ligament

Specialized connective-tissue fibers attaching tooth to alveolar bone.

Dento-alveolar syndesmosis

Fibrous joint connecting tooth root to maxilla or mandible.

Palate

Arched roof of mouth and floor of nasal cavities, separating the two regions.

Hard palate

Anterior two-thirds of palate formed by palatine processes of maxillae and palatine bones.

Soft palate

Posterior one-third of palate; movable, contains musculature and palatine aponeurosis.

Incisive fossa

Depression posterior to central incisors transmitting nasopalatine nerve and artery.

Greater palatine foramen

Opening medial to 3rd molar for greater palatine nerve and artery to hard palate.

Lesser palatine foramina

Openings posterior to GPF for nerves/arteries to soft palate.

Palatine glands

Mucous glands deep to palatal mucosa.

Transverse palatine folds

Ridges on hard palate aiding food manipulation.

Palatine raphe

Midline mucosal ridge marking fusion of palatal shelves.

Uvula

Conical process hanging from free margin of soft palate.

Palatoglossal arch

Fold over palatoglossus muscle linking soft palate to tongue.

Palatopharyngeal arch

Fold over palatopharyngeus muscle linking soft palate to pharynx.

Fauces

Passage between oral cavity and pharynx (throat).

Isthmus of fauces

Narrow space between oral cavity and oropharynx.

Palatine tonsil

Mass of lymphoid tissue between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches.

Palatine aponeurosis

Fibrous sheet attaching soft palate muscles to posterior hard palate.

Tongue

Muscular organ (ant. 2⁄3 oral cavity, post. 1⁄3 oropharynx) for taste, speech, swallowing.

Terminal sulcus

V-shaped groove separating anterior and posterior parts of tongue.

Foramen cecum

Depression at apex of terminal sulcus; remnant of thyroglossal duct.

Lingual papillae

Projections on dorsal tongue; include vallate, foliate, filiform, fungiform types.

Vallate papillae

Large, flat-topped papillae in V-shaped row anterior to terminal sulcus.

Foliate papillae

Small lateral folds of mucosa on tongue edges.

Filiform papillae

Numerous, conical papillae sensitive to touch; lack taste buds.

Fungiform papillae

Mushroom-shaped papillae concentrated near tongue apex, bearing taste buds.

Lingual tonsil

Lymphoid nodules on posterior third of tongue.

Lingual frenulum

Midline mucosal fold anchoring tongue to floor of mouth.

Sublingual caruncle

Papilla on each side of frenulum containing opening of submandibular duct.

Sublingual folds

Mucosal ridges housing multiple openings of sublingual gland ducts.

Genioglossus

Extrinsic tongue muscle protruding and depressing tongue; CN XII.

Hyoglossus

Extrinsic muscle depressing and retracting tongue; CN XII.

Styloglossus

Extrinsic muscle retracting and curling tongue; CN XII.

Palatoglossus

Extrinsic muscle elevating posterior tongue; innervated by CN X.

Superior & inferior longitudinal muscles

Intrinsic muscles shortening and thickening the tongue; CN XII.

Transverse & vertical muscles

Intrinsic muscles lengthening and narrowing tongue; CN XII.

CN V3 to tongue

Lingual nerve—general sensation to anterior two-thirds.

CN VII to tongue

Chorda tympani—taste to anterior two-thirds via lingual nerve.

CN IX to tongue

Glossopharyngeal—taste and sensation to posterior one-third.

CN X to tongue

Vagus—taste to root of tongue and epiglottis.

CN XII

Hypoglossal nerve—motor to intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles (except palatoglossus).

Lingual artery

Branch of ECA; dorsal branch supplies root, deep branch supplies body/apex.

Lingual veins

Dorsal veins drain root; deep veins begin at apex and drain body.

Salivary glands

Parotid, submandibular, sublingual glands secreting saliva for lubrication, digestion, and oral hygiene.

Parotid gland

Largest salivary gland anteroinferior to ear; pierced by facial nerve, drained by parotid duct to 2nd maxillary molar.

Submandibular gland

Gland beneath mandible; duct opens at sublingual caruncle beside frenulum.

Sublingual gland

Smallest salivary gland in floor of mouth; 12–15 ducts open along sublingual fold.

Parotid duct

Duct crossing masseter, piercing buccinator, opening opposite 2nd upper molar.

Submandibular duct

Duct running forward then medially to open beside lingual frenulum.

Sublingual ducts

Multiple small ducts opening along the sublingual fold.