3. • The structures in the oral cavity (teeth, tongue, hard
palate, salivary glands etc.) macerate, moisten and form a
food bolus which passes into the esophagus
• The tongue is essential for speech and movement of food
in the oral cavity and swallowing - but also for the sensation
of taste
• Teeth are the principal components of the oral cavity that
mechanically breaks down food into smaller physical
components
Oral cavity
Summary of structure and function
4. • Manipulates sounds produced by the larynx
and one outcome of this is speech
• Ventilation
• Facial expression
Oral cavity
Summary of structure and function
5. • Oral vestibule
Anterior/lateral: buccal mucosa (i.e., mucosa of the cheeks and the
lips)
Posterior/medial: anterior (facial) surface of the teeth and the gingiva
(gums) facing the buccal mucosa
Oral cavity proper
Anterior/lateral: posterior surface of the teeth and gums
Superior (roof): soft and hard palate
Inferior (floor): floor of the mouth
Posterior: communicates with the oropharynx
Oral cavity
Anatomical Boundaries:
11. Oral cavity
Floor
• Muscular diaphragm composed of the paired
mylohyoid muscles;
• two cord-like geniohyoid muscles above the
diaphragm
• Tongue, which is superior to the geniohyoid
muscles.
12. Oral cavity
Floor
• Muscular diaphragm composed of the paired
mylohyoid muscles;
• two cord-like geniohyoid muscles above the
diaphragm
• Tongue, which is superior to the geniohyoid
muscles.
13. Oral cavity
Floor
• Oropharyngeal triangle)
• Major route by which
structures in the upper
neck and infratemporal
fossa of the head pass to
and from
• Muscles (hyoglossus,
styloglossus),
• Vessels (lingual artery and
vein),
• Nerves (lingual,
hypoglossal [XII],
glossopharyngeal [IX]),
• Lymphatics
16. Anatomical Structures
Tongue
• Body: anterior two-thirds
• Root: posterior one-third
• Apex: tip of the tongue
• Body and root of the tongues are divided by the V-shaped sulcus
terminalis
• Left and right half are divided by the sulcus medianus
