Oral Cavity

• The oral cavity, or the mouth, is the start of

the alimentary canal.
• It has three major functions:
• Digestion: receives food, preparing it for
digestion in the stomach and small
intestine.
• Communication: modifies the sound to
create a range of sounds.
• Breathing: acts as an air inlet in addition to
the nasal cavity.
Divisions of the Oral Cavity
• The oral cavity extend between the oral
fissure anteriorly (the opening between
the lips), and the oropharyngeal isthmus
posteriorly (the opening of the
oropharynx).

• It is divided into two parts by the upper

and lower dental arches into Vestibule
and the Mouth cavity proper.
 Upper lip
Vestibule
Vestibule
• It is situated anteriorly.
• It is the space between the lips/cheeks, and 3rd molar
the gums/teeth. cheek
• The vestibule communicates with the
mouth proper via the space behind the
third molar tooth, and with the exterior
through the oral fissure. Gum

• The diameter of the oral fissure is

controlled principally by the orbicularis
oris muscles.
• It receives the opening of, the duct of the
parotid gland opposite the upper second
molar tooth, secreting salivatory juices.
 Mouth Proper
• The mouth proper lies posteriorly to the
vestibule.
• It has a roof, a floor, and the cheeks and
contains mainly the tongue
• Roof
• It consists of the hard palate anteriorly and soft
palate posteriorly.
• 1-The hard palate:
• It is bony plate that separates the nasal cavity
from the oral cavity.
• It is composed of
• (i) palatine processes of the maxilla; and
• (ii) horizontal plates of the palatine bones.
• Soft Palate
• The soft palate is located posterior to
hard palate.
• It is mobile, and comprised of
muscle fibers covered by a mucous
membrane.
• The posterior border of the soft
palate is free
• It has a central process that hangs
from the midline named the uvula.
• Function: it act as a valve that can
lower to close the oropharyngeal
isthmus, and elevate to separate the
nasopharynx from the oropharynx.
 The Gag Reflex

• The gag reflex is a reflex contraction

of the back of the throat, elicited by
touching the posterior pharyngeal wall,
tonsillar area, or the base of the tongue.
• Stimulation results in a visible
contraction of the pharyngeal wall.
• The gag reflex is a protective response
that prevents oral contents from
entering the throat.
• When stimulated, a reflex arc leads to
contraction of the pharyngeal
musculature and the elevation of the
soft palate.
 Floor of the mouth
• The floor of the oral cavity
consists of the followings:
• 1- Mylohyoid muscles: muscular
diaphragm support the floor of Mylohyoid
the mouth.
Geniohyoid
• 2-Geniohyoid muscles: pull the
larynx forward during
swallowing.
• 3-Tongue: connected to the floor
by the frenulum of the tongue (a
fold of oral mucosa).
• 4-Salivary glands and ducts.
Cheeks
• The cheeks are formed by the
buccinator muscle, which is
lined internally by the oral
mucous membrane.

• Function: keep the food

between the teeth during
chewing, and is supplied by the
buccal branches of the facial
nerve (CN-7).
 The Tongue
• The tongue is a mass of muscle either
extrinsic or intrinsic that completely
covered by a mucous membrane.

• It occupies most of the oral cavity and

oro-pharynx.

• Its functions includes; taste, mastication

(chewing), deglutition (swallowing),
articulation (speech), and oral cleansing.

• Parts: Root- Body-Apex or tip

Apex
Tip (Apex): is the anterior free end that
contact with central incisors
Root:
• It is the attached part of the tongue.
• It is attached to the Mandible and
Hyoid bone by muscles.
• Nerve and blood vessels of the tongue
enter through its root.
Right lateral Left lateral
Body:
• The part of tongue, between its root
and tip.
• It has two surfaces:
• Dorsal
• Ventral
• It has two borders:
• Right lateral
• Left lateral
 Dorsal Surface of the tongue
• It is convex and shows the
followings. Foramen Caecum

1- Sulcus Terminalis:
• An inverted V-shaped groove on the
dorsum of the tongue.
Sulcus Terminalis
2- Foramen Caecum: a foramen in tip
of sulcus terminalis
• The dorsum of tongue is divided
into anterior 2/3rd and posterior 1/3rd .
• Anterior 2/3rd: Body of tongue
[Oral part] which show median sulcus
& lingual papillae.
Lingual papillae:
• These are small structures on the
upper surface of the tongue that give
it its rough characteristic and mostly
contain taste buds.
Types- 4
• Vallate papillae (Circumvallate):in
front of sulcus terminalis
• Filiform papillae: all over the dorsal
surface of oral part of tongue.
• Fungiform papillae: at the apex and
margins of the tongue.
• Foliate papillae.
• Posterior 1/3rd :
• Root of tongue
• Pharyngeal part
• Base of tongue

• This surface forms the anterior wall of

oropharynx.
• No lingual papillae.
• It presents a large number of lymphoid
follicles → [Lingual Tonsils].
Ventral or inferior Surface of Tongue

• The mucosa of this surface is

thin, smooth and purplish.
Features:
• 1-Frenulum linguae: midline
fold of mucous membrane,
connecting the tongue to the
floor of mouth.
• 2-Deep lingual veins. on either
side of frenulum linguae.
• 3-Sublingual fold: fold of
mucous membrane, overlies
sub-lingual gland
 Muscles of Tongue

Extrinsic muscles: Produce movements of

tongue.
Intrinsic muscles: Change the shape of tongue

• Intrinsic Muscles
• There are four paired intrinsic muscles
named by the direction of fibers: the
superior longitudinal, inferior
longitudinal, transverse and vertical
muscles of the tongue.
• These muscles affect the shape and size
of the tongue
 Extrinsic Muscles
1- Genioglossus
Origin: from genial tubercle of the
mandible.
Insertion: into the whole under
surface of tongue
Function: Inferior fibers protrude
the tongue, middle fibers depress
the tongue, and superior fibers draw
the tip back and down

2- Hyoglossus
Origin: from the hyoid bone
Insertion: into the side of the tongue
Function: Depresses and retracts the tongue
3-Styloglossus
Origin: from styloid process of the
temporal bone
Insertion: into the side of the tongue
Function: Retracts and elevates the
tongue
4- Palatoglossus
Origin: from the palatine aponeurosis
Insertion: broadly across the tongue
Function: Elevates the posterior aspect
of the tongue
Nerve supply of the tongue
1- Motor supply:
all of the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles are
innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN 12), except
palatoglossus, which has vagal innervation (CN X).
2- Sensory supply:
The anterior 2/3
1-The general sensation is supplied by the lingual
nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve from
trigeminal nerve (CN -3).
2-The taste sensation is supplied chorda tympani
nerve from the facial nerve (CN-7).

The posterior 1/3 of the tongue: both general and

taste are supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve
(CN-9).
Thank you