Mouth
Stoma
- Latin synonym: Ostium orale; Os
Definition
The mouth (a.k.a. the oral cavity or the buccal cavity) marks the commencement of the digestive tract. It works in a harmonious coordination with the lips, tongue, palate and teeth, to bring about swallowing, speech production and also aids in respiration.
The mouth (or the oral cavity) can be divided into two sub-parts:
The vestibule: between the cheeks and lips on the outside and gums and teeth on the inside.
The oral cavity proper: situated inner to the gums and bounded by the alveolar processes (of maxilla and mandible) or the dental arches, from front and the sides.
The roof of the mouth (or oral cavity) is formed by the palate, which separates it from the nasal cavity above. Whereas, the floor comprises of soft tissues, such as the mylohyoid muscle, with the tongue resting on top of it.
Posteriorly, the oral cavity communicates with the oropharynx via the oropharyngeal isthmus.
The cavity of the mouth is lined by the oral mucosa that comprises of stratified squamous epithelium.
Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.
Kamrani, P. and Sadiq, N.M. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Oral Cavity (Mouth) [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545271/
Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 8: Head and Neck’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 1030-1031.
