Anatomy of the Oral Cavity

Study Notes

The oral cavity is the entrance to the digestive system and functions in ingestion.
The oral cavity is bounded by the lips rostrally, cheeks laterally, and dorsally by the hard palate.
The oral cavity is divided into two sections: the oral vestibule and the oral cavity proper. The oral vestibule is divided into two sections: the labial vestibule and the buccal vestibule.
The oral vestibule and oral cavity proper communicate behind the last molar teeth via the interdental space.

The lips are comprised of the upper (maxillary) and lower (mandibular) lips.
The oral cleft is the entrance to the oral cavity, bounded by the upper and lower lips which join at the oral commissure.
The labial frenulum is a fold of mucous membrane that connects the inner surface of the lip to the gum.
The philtrum is a vertical groove located in the middle of the upper lip.

The cheek forms the lateral wall of the oral cavity.
The cheek extends from the mouth angle to behind the last molar tooth.
The cheek also extends from the palate to the lower jaw.
The buccal glands are located between the mucous membrane and the cheek muscles.

The hard palate forms the roof of the oral cavity.
The hard palate is firmly attached to the palatine bone.
The hard palate is bounded by the upper dental arch rostrally and laterally, and by the soft palate caudally.
The hard palate is divided into two symmetrical halves by the median palatine raphe.
Transverse palatine ridges are located on either side of the palatine raphe.

The hard palate extends from the incisor teeth to the last cheek teeth, maintaining consistent width.
The palatine raphe is represented as a deep groove in the horse's palate.
The horse's palate has 16-18 palatine ridges which are concave caudally and extend caudally to the level of the soft palate.
An oval incisive papilla is located caudal to the incisor teeth.
The incisive papilla is flanked by a fissure on each side and its duct is obliterated.