Oral Cavity

Question 1

what is the oral cavity?

Answer 1

start of the alimentary canal

Question 2

function of the oral cavity?

Answer 2

digestion
communication
breathing

Question 3

role of oral cavity in digestion?

Answer 3

receives food, preparing it for digestion in the stomach and small intestine

Question 4

role of oral cavity in communication?

Answer 4

modifies the sound produced in the larynx to create a range of sounds

Question 5

role of oral cavity in breathing?

Answer 5

acts as an air inlet in addition to the nasal cavity

Question 6

where does the oral cavity span?

Answer 6

between the oral fissure (anteriorly – the opening between the lips), and the oropharyngeal isthmus (posteriorly – the opening of the oropharynx)

Question 7

what is the oral cavity divided into?

Answer 7

two parts by the upper and lower dental arches (formed by the teeth and their bony scaffolding)

Question 8

what are the 2 divisions of the oral cavity?

Answer 8

the vestibule, and the mouth cavity proper

Question 9

where is the vestibule located?

Answer 9

The horseshoe-shaped vestibule is situated anteriorly.

It is the space between the lips/cheeks, and the gums/teeth

Question 10

what does the vestibule communicate with?

Answer 10

The vestibule communicates with the mouth proper via the space behind the third molar tooth, and with the exterior through the oral fissure

Question 11

what controls the diameter of the oral fissure?

Answer 11

controlled by the muscles of facial expression – principally the orbicularis oris

Question 12

what is located opposite to the upper 2nd molar tooth?

Answer 12

the duct of the parotid gland opens out into the vestibule, secreting salivatory juices

Question 13

where does the mouth proper lie?

Answer 13

The mouth proper lies posteriorly to the vestibule

Question 14

what is the mouth proper bordered by?

Answer 14

a roof, a floor, and the cheeks

Question 15

what fills a large proportion of the cavity of the mouth proper?

Answer 15

the tongue

Question 16

roof of mouth proper?

Answer 16

consists of the hard and soft palates

Question 17

where is the hard palate found?

Answer 17

anteriorly

Question 18

function of the hard palate?

Answer 18

a bony plate that separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity

Question 19

what is the hard palate covered superiorly by?

Answer 19

respiratory mucosa (ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium)

Question 20

what is the hard palate covered inferiorly by?

Answer 20

oral mucosa (stratified squamous epithelium)

Question 21

what is the soft palate?

Answer 21

a posterior continuation of the hard palate. In contrast to the hard palate, it is a muscular structure

Question 22

function of soft palate?

Answer 22

acts as a valve that can lower to close the oropharyngeal isthmus, and elevate to separate the nasopharynx from the oropharynx

Question 23

floor of the oral cavity?

Answer 23

Muscular diaphragm
Geniohyoid muscles
Tongue
Salivary glands and ducts

Question 24

what does the muscular diaphragm (floor of oral cavity) comprise of?

Answer 24

the bilateral mylohyoid muscles

Question 25

function of the muscular diaphragm?

Answer 25

provides structural support to the floor of the mouth, and pulls the larynx forward during swallowing

Question 26

function of the geniohyoid muscles? (floor)

Answer 26

pull the larynx forward during swallowing

Question 27

what is the tongue connected to the floor of the oral cavity by?

Answer 27

by the frenulum of the tongue, a fold of oral mucosa

Question 28

what are the cheeks formed by?

Answer 28

the buccinator muscle

Question 29

what is the buccinator muscle lined internally by?

Answer 29

oral mucous membrane (stratified squamous)

Question 30

function of the buccinator muscle?

Answer 30

contracts to keep food between the teeth when chewing

Question 31

innervation of buccinator muscle?

Answer 31

buccal branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) - motor

Question 32

sensory innervation of the oral cavity?

Answer 32

supplied by the branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Question 33

hard and soft palates innervation?

Answer 33

the greater palatine and nasopalatine nerves | both derived from the maxillary branch (V2) of the trigeminal nerve

Question 34

innervation to floor of oral cavity?

Answer 34

receives sensory innervation from the lingual nerve – a branch of the mandibular (V3) division of the trigeminal nerve

Question 35

innervation of tongue?

Answer 35

innervated by special sensory fibres for taste from the chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) (anterior 2/3rd)

Question 36

innervation of cheeks?

Answer 36

buccal nerve | branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve - sensory