HISTOLOGY OF ORAL CAVITY

Wall Structure of Oral cavity

MUCOSA
1. Epithelium: Nonkeratinised stratified squamous epm covers
internal surfaces of oral cavity and oral pharynx except the teeth
2. Lamina propria: vascular connective tissue with papillae similar to
those of dermis.
3. Muscularis mucosae: ABSENT

SUBMUCOSA
More fibrous and contains many blood vessels and minor salivary
glands

MUSCULARIS EXTERNA: NO standard muscularis externa

Skeletal muscle underlies the submucosa in the lips, cheeks,
tongue, floor of oral cavity, oral pharynx and soft palate.
Bone underlies the thin submucosa of hard palate.
LIPS
The lips control access to the oral cavity from the outside
environment.

A. External Surface
The external surface is covered with thin skin and therefore
possesses hair follicles, sebaceous glands & sweat glands.

B. Transitional Zone
The transitional zone (vermilion zone) is the red area of
the lip. Here the connective tissue papillae(dermal papillae)
extend deep into the epidermis. Hair follicles and sweat
glands are absent, whereas sebaceous glands are absent.
C. Mucous Membrane
The inner aspect of the lip is lined by a stratified
squamous nonkeratinized epithelium with
numerous mixed labial salivary glands in the
lamina propria and submucosa.

D. Core of the Lip

The core of the lip contains skeletal muscle =name
G accessory salivary glands M skeletal muscle O oral mucosa S skin V vermilion border
TONGUE
The tongue is a muscular organ whose oral part is
freely moving; its root is attached to the floor of the
pharynx.
Skeletal muscle forms the core of the tongue,
among which are mixed lingual salivary glands.

A. Oral Region (Anterior 2/3rds)

The mucosa of the dorsal surface of the anterior
two thirds of the tongue is modified to form four
types of lingual papillae.
1. Filiform Papillae
Filiform papillae are long and slender and are the most
numerous. They form a roughened surface along the entire
surface.
They are covered by a partly/parakeratinized stratified
squamous epithelium (but bear no taste buds

2. Fungiform Papillae
Fungiform papillae are mushroom-shaped, are scattered
among the filiforms, and may be recognized by
their appearance as red dots. They contain taste buds
along their expanded aspect.
3. Foliate Papillae
Foliate papillae appear as longitudinal furrows along the
side of the tongue near the posterior aspect of the
anterior two-thirds. Their taste buds degenerate at an
early age in humans. Serous glands of von Ebner are
associated with these papillae.

4. Circumvallate Papillae
Vallate papillae are very large and form a V-shaped
row anterior to sulcus terminalis. They are each
surrounded by a moat or groove, the walls of which
contain tastebuds in their stratified squamous
nonkeratinized epithelium. Serous glands of von Ebner
open into the base of the furrow. Their connective tissue
core possesses a rich nerve and vascular supply.
TEETH
Teeth are composed of 3 calcified tissues (hydroxyapatite)
and a connective tissue core, the pulp.

A. Enamel
Enamel is the hardest substance in the body. It is made by
ameloblasts, cells no longer present in the erupted tooth.
Enamel is present only in the crown.

B. Dentin
Dentin is a calcified, collagen-based material that
constitutes the bulk of the crown and root; it surrounds the
pulp. Dentin is made by odontoblasts, whose long
processes (Tomes’ fibres) remain in channels, the dentinal
tubules.
C. Cementum
Cementum is located on the root of the tooth,
surrounding dentin. Cementum is a collagen-based,
calcified material made by cementoblasts, when
entrapped are cementocytes.

Fibers of the periodontal ligament are embedded in

cementum and bone, thus suspending the tooth in its
bony socket; the alveolus.

D. Pulp
The pulp is a Mucoid connective tissue that occupies the
pulp chamber. It is richly supplied by nerves and blood
vessels.
GINGIVA
The gingiva (gum) is covered by a stratified
squamous partially keratinized (parakeratotic) epm.

The underlying connective tissue is densely

populated with thick bundles of collagen fibers
Pharyngeal Region (Posterior One-Third)

The mucosa of the posterior one-third of the

tongue presents numerous lymphatic nodules
that constitute the lingual tonsils.
PALATE
The palate, composed of hard and soft regions, separates
the oral and nasal cavities from each other.
Therefore, the palate possesses a nasal and an oral aspect.

The oral aspect is covered by stratified squamous

epithelium (parakeratinized on the hard palate), whereas
the nasal aspect is covered by a respiratory epithelium.

The subepithelial connective tissue presents dense

collagen fibers interspersed with adipose tissue and
mucous salivary glands (palatine glands). The core of the
hard palate houses a bony shelf, whereas that of the soft
palate is composed of skeletal muscle.
PHARYNX
The pharynx is shared by respiratory and digestive
tracts.

Respiratory pharynx is lined by respiratory

epithelium

Oropharynx is lined by nonkeratized stratified

squamous epithelium.

The wall of the pharynx contains pharyngeal and

palatine tonsils, many small subepithelial mucous
glands, and skeletal muscle arranged as outer
circular and inner longitudinal.