Oral Cavity

A series of flashcards covering the anatomy and terminology related to the oral cavity, including structures, functions, and associations.

Labial commissure

The closure line of the lips.

Labio-mental groove

A shallow linear depression between the lower lip and the chin.

Labio-marginal sulcus

A shallow depression extending downward from the corners of the mouth.

Ala

The sides of the nostrils of the nose.

Canine eminence

The prominence over the roots of the canine teeth.

Canine fossa

The depression in the mucobuccal fold between the canine and the first molar tooth.

Buccal frenum

Similar to the labial frenum but smaller in size, found in the canine and premolar area.

Buccal mucosa

Mucosa covering the inside of the lips and cheek area.

Mucobuccal fold

Area where the mucosa of the lip contacts the mucosa of the alveolar process.

Oral cavity

The upper end of the digestive system, extending from the lips to the palatine tonsils.

Tonsillar pillars

Folds of tissue located in the throat beside the palatine tonsils.

Oral pharynx

Begins posterior to the tonsillar pillars.

Vestibule

The space between the lips or cheeks and the teeth or alveolar ridge.

Oral cavity proper

Area surrounded by the teeth or alveolar ridges back to the palatine tonsils.

Vermilion zone

Transitional zone of reddish tissue between the skin of the face and oral cavity.

Philtrum

Indentation at the midline of the upper lip.

Frenum

Fold of connective tissue that anchors the lips to the gums.

Diastema

Space between teeth, often caused by a prominent frenum.

Mucogingival junction

Point at which alveolar mucosa becomes tightly attached to the bone.

Fordyce granules

Misplaced sebaceous glands appearing as yellowish granular structures in the mucosa.

Exostoses

Bony growths on the buccal cortical plate seen in some of the population.

Rugae

Transverse ridges of the hard palate covered with keratinized epithelium.

Incisive papilla

Bulge of tissue beneath incisive foramen at midline behind central incisors.

Greater palatine foramina

Openings for nerves and blood vessels to the hard palate.

Lesser palatine foramen

Opening for nerves and blood vessels to the soft palate.

Torus palatinus

Excess bone growth in the midline of the hard palate, non-pathological.

Uvula

Downward projection at the posterior of the soft palate.

Palatine tonsils

Lymphoid tissue located on either side of the fauces.

Anterior pillar

Palatoglossal fold in front of the palatine tonsil.

Posterior pillar

Palatopharyngeal fold behind the palatine tonsil.

Pterygomandibular fold

Tissue connecting the mandible and maxilla.

Alveolar mucosa

Mucosa lining the buccal surfaces of teeth.

Periodontal ligament

Tissue surrounding tooth roots and connecting them to alveolar bone.

Cementum

Hard, bonelike tissue covering the roots of teeth.

Alveolar bone

Compact bone surrounding the tooth sockets.

Gingiva

Soft tissue surrounding the teeth.

Gingival sulcus

Space between the tooth and gingival tissue.

Dentogingival junction

Where the tooth surface meets the gingival tissue.

Tongue

Muscular organ in the oral cavity with taste and movement functions.

Filiform papillae

Papillae providing tactile sensation, no taste function.

Fungiform papillae

Round, red papillae with taste buds on the anterior tongue.

Circumvallate papillae

Large, circular papillae forming a V shape at the back of the tongue.

Lingual frenum

Connective tissue fold attaching the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

Sublingual fold

Fold of tissue along the floor of the mouth next to the sublingual caruncle.

Sublingual caruncle

Opening for the ducts of submandibular and sublingual glands.

Mandibular tori

Bony swellings on the lingual surface of the mandible.

Masticatory mucosa

Mucosa found on gingiva and hard palate, typically keratinized.

Lining mucosa

Non-keratinized mucosa found in areas like the floor of the mouth.

Specialized mucosa

Mucosa on the dorsum of the tongue containing taste buds.

Keratinized epithelium

Surface layer of tissue with dead cells, providing protection.

Non-keratinized epithelium

Surface layer of tissue with living cells, typically more flexible.

Parakeratinized epithelium

Surface tissue with some dead cells but retains some nuclei.

Labial freenum

Fold of tissue in the center of the upper and lower lips.

Oral mucosa

Lining of the oral cavity composed of stratified squamous epithelium.

Gingival unit

Tissues that support teeth, including free and attached gingiva.

Attached gingiva

Mucosa firmly attached to the underlying bone.

Free gingiva

Gum tissue that surrounds the tooth at its cervical area.

Alveolar mucosa

Lines the buccal surfaces of the teeth and is movable.

Sharpey's fibers

Fibers that embed in cementum or alveolar bone stabilizing the gingiva.