Oral mucosa

Question 1

What are the functions of the Oral mucosa

Answer 1

Protection​
-Mechanical​
-Infection, immunity​
Sensation​
Secretion​
Absorption​
(Thermoregulation)

Question 2

What are the types of oral mucosa

Answer 2

Masticatory (around teeth including hard palate)
Lining
Gustatory

Question 3

What are the properties of the masticatory mucosa

Answer 3

-Subjected to friction, compression​
-(para)keratinised​
-Thick lamina propria (mucoperiosteum)​

Question 4

What are the properties of the lining mucosa

Answer 4

-Mobile and distensible​
-Nonkeratinised​
-Loose lamina propria and wide submucosa​
-More rapid turnover than masticatory mucosa​
(non-keratinised cells can be produced quicker)

Question 5

What are the properties of the gustatory mucosa

Answer 5

-Similar to masticatory​
-Keratinised​
-Present only on dorsum of tongue​
-Characterised by papillae, some bearing taste buds​

Question 6

What cell layers are found within the epithelium

Answer 6

Stratum corneum
(cornified)
Stratum spinosum
(prickle cell layer)
Stratum germinativum
(basal layer)
Stratum granulosum
(granular layer)

Question 7

What are some diseases of the oral mucosa

Answer 7

-Oral infections​
-Recurrent oral ulceration​
-Vesiculo-bullous lesions​
-White patches​
-Premalignant conditions​
-Pigmented lesions​
-Oral cancer​

Question 8

What holds epithelium together

Answer 8

Desmosomes

Question 9

How are parakeratinised cells identified

Answer 9

Parakeratinised
some keratinised cells still have nucleus present

Question 10

What is the mucogingival junction

Answer 10

Connection between masticatory mucosa and lining mucosa

Question 11

What are non-keratinocytes

Answer 11

Do not contain keratin (clear)
Account for 10% of epithelial cells

Question 12

What are the types of non-keratinocytes

Answer 12

Melanocytes​
-Pigment-producing; in Str. germinativum​

Merkel cells​
-Associated with mechanoreceptor neurons; in Str. germinativum​

Langerhans cells​
-Dendritic cells; found above Str. germinativum; function as antigen-presenting cells​

Question 13

Where would filiform, fungiform and vallate papillae be found

Answer 13

The gustatory mucosa

Question 14

What is the vermillion border

Answer 14

The separation between the skin and labial mucosa on the lip

Question 15

What irregularities on the tongue surface may indicate disease (benign migratory glossitis)

Answer 15

-Irregular, smooth patches​
-No filiform papillae​
-Red or white margins​
-Pattern changes over time​
-In children and adults​
-Asymptomatic; some people have discomfort​
-Histologically, similar to psoriasis​
-No Tx usually required​

Question 16

What mucosa would be found on the inner surface of the cheek

Answer 16

Lining mucosa

Question 17

You will be able to see some glands in the lamina propria, these are:

Answer 17

Exocrine
Minor salivary glands

Question 18

What is the purpose of these minor salivary glands within lamina propria

Answer 18

Lubricate the surface of the cheek with mucous saliva

Question 19

What type of muscle is present deep to the minor salivary glands within the lamina propria

Answer 19

Skeletal muscle

Question 20

What is a mitotic figure

Answer 20

Areas in which cell division is occurring

Question 21

Where will collagen not be present

Answer 21

Enamel

Question 22

What type of epithelium is junctional epithelium

Answer 22

Non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium

Question 23

What is the purpose of hemidesmosomes

Answer 23

Attaches junction epithelium to enamel

Question 24

Why are neutrophil cells present

Answer 24

Due to chronic inflammatory response