THE ORAL CAVITY

The oral cavity is where food is ingested, masticated by teeth and lubricated by
saliva for swallowing. It is lined by a protective, non-keratinized, stratified
squamous epithelium. The oral cavity is formed by the lips and the cheeks. The
lips are lined by the skin that is covered by keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium. The lip also contains skeletal muscle called orbicularis oris. The
outer surface of the lips also contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands and sweat
glands.

THE TOOTH
A tooth consists of an upper part called the crown, and one or more roots
embedded in the sockets of the jaw bone.

The mineralized parts of a tooth are;

 The enamel,
 The dentin and
 The cementum.

The dentine is covered by enamel in the region that projects above the gum.
Below the gum, the dentine is covered by cementum. The cementum contains
lacunae with cementum producing cells called cemetocytes and then connecting
canaliculi. Dentine surrounds both the pulp cavity and its extension into the root
called the root canal. In living persons, the pulp cavity and root canal are filled
with fine connective tissue, fibroblast, histiocytes and dentine forming cells
called odontoblasts. Blood capillaries and nerves enter the pulp cavity through
an apical canal or foramen at the tip of each root.

The dentine has wavy, parallel dentinal tubules. The primary dentine is located
at the periphery of the tooth. The secondary dentine lies along the pulp cavity
formed throughout life by odontoblasts. Numerous irregular, air-filled spaces
appearing black are found in the dentinoenamel junction. In living persons,
interglobular spaces are filled with incomplete calcified dentine (interglobular
dentine). In the root dentinal-cementum junction are air-filled spaces though
smaller and more closely spaced together where they form the granular layer (of
Tomes).
The dentine in the crown of the tooth is covered with a thicker layer of enamel
that is composed of enamel rods or prisms held together by interprismatic
cementing substance. The lines of Retzius represent variations in the rate of
enamel deposition. The light rays passing through a dried section of the tooth
are refracted by twists that occur in the enamel rods as the course towards the
surface of the tooth called the light lines of Schreger. The enamel tufts
extending from the dentinoenamel junction into the enamel is produced by poor
calcification of enamel rods during enamel formation.

THE TONGUE
The tongue is a muscular organ in the oral cavity; it is made of connective tissue
and interlacing bundles of skeletal muscle fibres. The distribution and random
orientation of the skeletal muscle fibres in the tongue allows increased
movement during chewing, swallowing and speaking.

The dorsal surface of the tongue is rough and it is characterized by numerous

mucosal projections called papillae. The ventral surface of the tongue is smooth.

The mucosa is lined by stratified squamous epithelium (non keratinized)

separated from the core of the tongue by prominent core of lamina propria. The
core of the tongue consists of criss-crossing bundles of skeletal muscles. The
muscles are seen in longitudinal, transverse or oblique planes or section.
Neurovascular bundles are seen in the connective tissue of the tongue.
The anterior lingual gland surrounded by the skeletal muscle fibres are found in
the lower half of the tongue. This gland is of mixed-type containing both
mucous and serous acini as well as mixed acini. The interlobular ducts from the
gland pass through the larger excretory duct that opens into the oral cavity in the
ventral surface of the tongue.

Four types of papillae are found on the tongue:

1. Filiform papillae
2. Fungiform papillae
3. Circumvalate papillae
4. Foliate papillae

FILIFORM PAPILLAE: the most numerous and smallest papillae. It is

narrow and conical in shape. They cover the entire dorsal surface of the tongue.

FUNGIFORM PAPILLAE: they are less numerous, larger and broader than
the filiform papillae. They exhibit mushroom-like, shape, more prevalent in the
anterior region of the tongue and are interspersed among the filiform papillae.
They are also taller than the filiform papillae.

CIRCUMVALLATE PAPILLAE: Are much larger than the fungiform of

filiform papillae. Eight to twelve large circumvallate papillae are located in the
posterior region of the tongue. They are characterized by deep moats or furrows
that completely encircle them numerous excretory ducts from serous (von
Ebner’s) glands located in the connective tissue empty into the base of the
furrows.

FOLIATE PAPILLAE: the foliate papillae are well developed in some

animals but are rudimentary or poorly developed in humans.

TASTE BUDS: are barrel-shaped structures found in the epithelium of the

foliate and fungiform papillae and on the lateral side of the circumvalate
papillae. It has an opening called taste pores. It has elongated neuroepithelial
(taste or gustatory) cells that extends from the base of the taste bud to the taste
pore.

The apical region of each taste cell exhibits numerous microvilli (taste hair) that
protrude the taste pore. The taste cells are closely associated with afferent nerve
fibres. The taste buds also contain elongated supporting sustentacular cells (non
sensory), the basal cells found at the base of the taste bud (undifferentiated cells
serving as stem cells)

FUNCTIONS OF THE TONGUE AND TASTE BUDS

The main function of the tongue during food processing are to perceive taste
and to assist in mastication and swallowing of the food mass called bolus. In the
oral cavity, the taste sensations are detected by receptors taste cells in the taste
buds of the fungiform and circumvalate papillae. Taste buds are also found in
the mucous membrane of the soft palate, pharynx and epiglottis.

Substances to be tasted are dissolved in the saliva during food intake. The taste
buds in the circumvalate papillae are constantly washed by watery secretion
produced by serous (von Ebner’s) glands. This secretion enters the furrow at the
base of the papillae and dissolves different substances, which then enter the
taste pores. The taste cells are stimulated by coming in direct contact with the
dissolved substance.

The four basic taste sensations are:

 Sour
 Salt
 Bitter
 Sweet

Other taste sensations are various combinations of the above taste sensations.
The tip of the tongue is most sensitive to sweet and salt, the posterior portion of
the tongue is most sensitive to bitter and the lateral edges of the tongue is most
sensitive to sour taste sensation.
SALIVARY GLANDS

The salivary glands are made of cellular secreting units called acini and
numerous secretory ducts. The units are small, sac-like dilations located at the
end of the first segment of the excretory duct system called the intercalated
ducts. The three major salivary glands are the parotid, the submandibular and
the sublingual glands which are found outside the oral cavity. The parotid
glands are the largest and are located anterior and inferior to the external ear.
The paired submandibular (submaxilllary) glands are smaller and located
inferior to the mandible in the floor of the mouth. The sublingual glands are the
smallest and are aggregates of smaller glands found inferior to the tongue.

The salivary gland contains the serous cells, mucous and the myoepithelial
cells.

 The serous cells in the acini are pyramidal in shape. It has spherical
nuclei pushed to the base of the cell by the secretory granules
accumulated in the upper of apical region of the cytoplasm.
 The mucous cells are pyramidal in shape, cytoplasm is filled with light
staining secretory product called mucous. The nuclei are flat and pushed
to the base of the cell by accumulated secretory granules
 Some salivary glands contain both mucous and serous cells in the same
secretory acinus. In these mixed acini where mucous cells predominate,
serous cells form a crescent or moo-shaped cap over the mucous cells
 called serous demilune. Secretions from serous cells in the demilunes
enter the lumen of the acinus through tiny intercellular canaliculi between
the mucous cells.
 Myoepithelial cells are flattened cells that surround serous and mucous
acini. The cells are highly branched and contractile. It is found between
the cell membrane of the secretory cells in acini and the surrounding
basement membrane.
 The connective tissue fibres subdivide the salivary glands into numerous
lobules where the secretory ducts and their excretory ducts are found.
 The intercalated ducts are smaller ducts in the salivary glands lined by
low cuboidal epithelium. It is surrounded by contractile myoepithelial
cells. Serous, mucous and mixed secretory acini empty heir secretory
product into the intercalated ducts.
 The intercalated ducts unite to form striated ducts which are larger than
the intercalated ducts. These ducts are lined by columnar epithelium and
exhibit tiny basal striations.
 The striated ducts in turn unite to form larger intralobular ducts
surrounded by increased layer of connective tissue fibres.
 Intralobular ducts unite to form larger interlobular and interlobar ducts
lined by either stratified low cuboidal or columnar epithelium.

PAROTID GLAND

The parotid gland is a large serous gland that is classified as a compound

tubuloacinar gland. It is surrounded by a connective tissue capsule from which
arise numerous septae that subdivides the gland into lobes and lobules.
Neurovascular bundles are found in the connective tissue bundles such as
arterioles, venule and nerves. Interlobular excretory ducts and adipose cells are
also seen in the connective tissue septae.
SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND

The submandibular gland is also a compound tubuloacinar gland. It is a mixed

gland containing both serous and mucous acini with serous predominating. The
presence of both acini distinguishes the submandibular gland from the parotid
gland which is purely serous gland. This gland possess few mucous acini
intermixed with serous acini predominating the gland. The serous acini are
similar to those in the parotid gland characterized by small and dark-staining
pyramidal cells, spherical basal nucleus and apical secretory granules.
The mucous acini are larger than the serous acini with larger lumen and more
variation in size and shape. The mucous cells are columnar with pale or
colourless cytoplasm after staining. The nuclei are flattened and pressed against
the base of the cell membrane. In this gland, the mucous acini are normally
surrounded or capped by one or more serous cells forming a crescent-shaped
serous demilune. The thin contractile myoepithelial cells surround the serous
and mucous acini and the intercalated duct.

The gland is also covered by a connective tissue capsule, whose septa arises and
subdivides the gland into lobes and lobules. The septa also contain
neurovascular bundles, adipocytes and ducts.

SUBLINGUAL GLAND
Sublingual gland is also a compound, mixed tubuloacinar gland that resembles
submandibular gland due to the presence of serous and mucuous acini. The
mucous acini predominates this gland and is capped with serous demilunes.

Comparing with other glands, the duct system is different. The intercalated
ducts are short or absent, the nonstriated intralobular excretory ducts are more
prevalent, and the intralobular excretory ducts are the same to the striated ducts
of the submandibular and parotid gland. But they lack extensive membrane
infolding and basal striations

The interlobular connective tissue septa are also more abundant in the
sublingual gland than other salivary glands. Neurovascular bundles and
interlobular excretory ducts are seen in the septa as well as adipocytes are also
seen.
FUNCTIONS

The saliva is a mixture of secretions that are produced by cells in different

salivary glands. The major component is water; saliva also contains ions,
mucus, enzymes and antibodies (immunoglobulins), electrolytes (calcium,
sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonates). The sight, smell, thought, taste or
actual presence of food in the mouth causes an autonomic stimulation of the
salivary glands that increases production of saliva and stimulates its release into
the oral cavity.

 Saliva moistens the chewed food and provides solvents that allow food to
be tasted.
 It lubricates the bolus of chewed food for easier swallowing and passage
through oesophagus to the stomach. The saliva also contains salivary
amylase secreted by serous acini. This enzyme initiates the breakdown of
starch into smaller carbohydrates in the oral cavity. Once in the stomach,
food is acidified by gastric juice (an action that decreases amylase
activity and carbohydrate digestion)
 The saliva also functions in controlling bacterial flora in the mouth and
protect the oral cavity against pathogens. Lysozymes secreted by serous
acini hydrolysis the cell walls of bacteria and inhibits their growth
 Antibodies (immunoglobulin A) produced by the plasma cells in the
connective tissue of the gland form complexes with antigens and assist
with immunological defense against oral bacteria.
Things to note:

1. Diagrams of all the organs.

2. Cells and tissues that makes up the organs.
3. Differences between parotid, sumandibular and sublingual glands.
4. Functions of all the organs.