Structures of the Oral Cavity

oral cavity

begins at lips and extends posteriorly to palatine tonsils where the oropharynx begins

palatine tonsils

lie on right and left of fauces between tonsilar pillars

fauces

openings of the oropharynx

anterior border of oral cavity

the lips

posterior border of the oral cavity

fauces

lateral border of oral cavity

the cheeks

superior border of the oral cavity

the palate

the inferior border of the oral cavity

floor of the mouth

lips

two fleshy borders of the mouth that meet at the labial commissure

what type of tissues are in the lips

muscle, skin, and inner mucosa

vermillion zone

red zone of the lips, the transitional zone between the skin and oral mucosa

vermillion border

border between skin and vermillion zone

tubercle

found on the upper lip, in center is a small rounded nodule of tissue

philtrum

• superior to tubercle

• shallow depression extending from area below the middle of nose to center of the upper lip

oral vestibule

space between the teeth and supporting alveolar process, lips, and cheeks

mucosa

lined by buccal and labial mucosa known together as vestibular mucosa

mucobuccal fold

superior and inferior border of the vestibule

parotid papilla

round elevation of tissue on buccal mucosa adjacent to maxillary first and second molars

the parotid papilla overlays

stenson’s duct

stenson’s duct

opening of parotid gland

major salivary glands

• parotid gland

• submandibular gland

• sublingual gland

labial frenulum

elevated fold of soft mucosal tissue extending from labial mucosa to attached gingiva

buccal frenulum

fold of soft mucous tissue extending from attached gingiva to buccal mucosa, near premolars

oral cavity proper

space bound anteriorly by teeth and alveolar process and posteriorly by fauces

hard palate

mucosa firmly bound to bone

soft palate

yellow, moveable muscle covered by mucosa

uvula

downward projection of muscle extending from soft palate

vibrating line

junction between soft and hard palate

incisive papilla

small elevation of tissue directly posterior to maxillary central incisors

palatine rugae

firm, irregular ridges of tissue that extend from median raphe

median palatine raphe

midline ridge of tissue extending from incisive papilla to uvula

maxillary tuberosity

directly posterior to max. third molar; firm tissue bulge over the bone

retromandibular pad

small elevation of moveable tissue directly posterior to mandibular third molar

pterygomandibular fold

fold of a tissue that appears to connect the area distal to maxillary molars to distal of mandibular molars

palatopharyngeal fold

post. pillar of fauces, muscle covered by mucosa

palatoglossal fold

anterior pillar of fauces, muscle covered by mucosa anterior to palatine tonsils

tongue

broad flat structure composed of muscle and glands that rests on the floor of the mouth

filiform papillae

fine, hairlike projections that give the tongue its velvety appearnace

fungiform papillae

red mushroom shaped papillae associaed wth taste buds

circumvallate papillae

large mushroom shaped 8-10 in umber found posterior on the tongue, also assoctaed with taste buds

foliate papillae

lateral border of the tongue

apex

tip of the tongue

plicae

fold with fringe like processes

lingual variscosities

veins

lingual frenum

a midline fold of tissue between ventral surface f the tongue and floor of the mouth

siblingual caruncle

duct opening for salivary glands

sublingual fold

ridge of tissue