Oral Cavity and Its Structures

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Questions and Answers

What are the three major functions of the oral cavity?

Digestion, Communication, Breathing (correct)

Breathing, Communication, Absorption

Digestion, Protection, Breathing

Communication, Taste, Digestion

Which structure forms the opening of the oral cavity?

Palate

Cheeks

Teeth

Lips (correct)

Which part of the oral cavity acts as a valve separating the oropharynx from the nasopharynx?

Tongue

Hard palate

Soft palate (correct)

Floor of the mouth

What forms the lateral borders of the oral cavity proper?

Cheeks Signup and view all the answers

Which teeth type is present in the greatest number in the human mouth?

Molars Signup and view all the answers

Which nerve primarily supplies the floor of the mouth?

Lingual nerve Signup and view all the answers

What divides the dorsum of the tongue into anterior and posterior sections?

V-shaped sulcus terminalis Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the tongue is referred to as the root?

Pharyngeal posterior 1/3rd Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Alter the shape of the tongue Signup and view all the answers

Which nerve is responsible for the motor innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Hypoglossal nerve Signup and view all the answers

Which type of papillae is NOT present on the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue?

No papillae present Signup and view all the answers

The protrusion of the tongue is primarily aided by which muscle?

Genioglossus Signup and view all the answers

What is the arterial supply of the tongue mainly provided by?

Lingual artery Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the soft palate is true?

It is muscular and located posteriorly. Signup and view all the answers

What condition results from an abnormal frenulum attachment?

Ankyloglossia (tongue tie) Signup and view all the answers

Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue?

Glossopharyngeal nerve Signup and view all the answers

Which structure serves as the roof of the oral cavity and the floor of the nasal cavity?

Hard palate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following foramina transmits the nasopalatine nerve?

Incisive canal Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary action of the levator veli palatini muscle?

Raises the soft palate Signup and view all the answers

The palatine cochlea is primarily involved in which function?

Voice modulation Signup and view all the answers

Which muscle is responsible for elevating the wall of the pharynx?

Palatopharyngeus Signup and view all the answers

What composition primarily forms the soft palate?

Muscle fibers, glands, blood vessels, and nerves Signup and view all the answers

What connects the hard palate to the soft palate?

Palatine aponeurosis Signup and view all the answers

The uvula is part of which anatomical structure?

Soft palate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Oral Cavity

Extends from the lips to the oropharyngeal isthmus.
Performs three main functions: digestion, communication, and breathing.

Structures of the Oral Cavity

Lips: Fleshy folds surrounding the oral orifice; essential for speech, eating, and facial expressions.
- Covered externally by skin and internally by mucous membrane.
Teeth: 32 permanent teeth in total.
- Four incisors, two canines, four premolars, and six molars in each jaw.
Tongue: A mass of striated muscle covered by mucous membrane.
- Divided into right and left halves by a median fibrous septum.
- Contains three parts: oral anterior 2/3rd, pharyngeal posterior 1/3rd, and root (base).
- Two surfaces: dorsal and ventral.
  - Dorsal surface: Rough, with three types of papillae (fungiform, filiform, and vallate) in the anterior 2/3rd.
  - Ventral surface: Smooth.
- Muscles:
  - Intrinsic muscles: Confined to the tongue, no bony attachments, responsible for altering the tongue's shape.
  - Extrinsic muscles: Attached to surrounding bones (mandible, hyoid bone, styloid bones) and the soft palate, responsible for tongue movements.
- Movements:
  - Protrusion: Genioglossus on both sides.
  - Retraction: Styloglossus & hyoglossus on both sides.
  - Depression: Hyoglossus & genioglossus on both sides.
  - Elevation: Styloglossus & palatoglossus on both sides.
- Arterial and nerve supply:
  - Arterial supply: Lingual artery, tonsillar branch of facial artery.
  - Venous drainage: Internal jugular vein.
  - Sensory innervation:
    - Anterior 2/3rd: Lingual branch of trigeminal nerve, chorda tympani branch of facial nerve (taste).
    - Posterior 1/3rd: Glossopharyngeal nerve (general sensation).
  - Motor nerve supply:
    - Intrinsic muscles: Hypoglossal nerve.
    - Extrinsic muscles: Hypoglossal nerve (except palatoglossus, which is supplied by the pharyngeal plexus).
- Function: Taste, speech production, sucking, chewing, and swallowing.
Palate: The roof of the oral cavity.
- Composed of two parts:
  - Hard palate: Bony structure, located anteriorly, separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity. Foramina include the incisive canal, greater palatine foramen, and lesser palatine foramina.
  - Soft palate: Muscular structure, located posteriorly, acts as a valve that closes the oropharyngeal isthmus and separates the oropharynx and nasopharynx.
  - Two arches connect the palate to the tongue and pharynx: palatoglossal arches anteriorly and palatopharyngeal arches posteriorly.
- Muscles:
  - Tensor veli palatini: Tenses the soft palate.
  - Levator veli palatini: Raises the soft palate.
  - Musculus uvulae: Elevates the uvula.
  - Palatoglossus: Elevates the root of the tongue.
  - Palatopharyngeus: Elevates the wall of the pharynx.
Salivary glands: Three pairs of salivary glands produce saliva, which aids in digestion.
Uvula: A fleshy projection hanging from the soft palate.
Tonsils: Lymphoid tissue located in the oropharynx, part of the immune system.

Clinical Importance

Tongue tie (ankyloglossia): Condition where the frenulum (fold of mucous membrane connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too short, limiting tongue movement.
Lesion of the hypoglossal nerve: Results in deviation of the protruded tongue towards the side of the lesion, with wrinkling and atrophy of the tongue.

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Description

Explore the fascinating anatomy of the oral cavity, which extends from the lips to the oropharyngeal isthmus. This quiz covers the essential structures such as lips, teeth, and tongue, and their roles in digestion, communication, and breathing.