Anatomy of oral Cavity

1. Oral region
a. The oral region includes the oral cavity (mouth), teeth, gingivae (gums), tongue,
palate, and the region of the palatine tonsils.
b. The oral cavity is where food is ingested and prepared for digestion in the stomach
and small intestine.
c. The teeth and saliva from the salivary glands facilitate the formation of a
manageable food bolus (L. lump).
2. The oral cavity
a. The oral cavity (mouth) consists of two parts: the oral vestibule and the oral cavity
proper
b. The oral vestibule communicates with the exterior through the mouth.
c. The size of the oral fissure (opening) is controlled by muscles such as the orbicularis
oris (the sphincter of the oral fissure).
d. The oral cavity proper is the space posterior and medial to the upper and lower
dental arches.
i. It is limited laterally and anteriorly by the maxillary and mandibular alveolar
arches housing the teeth.
ii. The roof of the oral cavity proper is formed by the palate.
e. Posteriorly, the oral cavity communicates with the oropharynx, the oral part of the
pharynx.
f. When the mouth is closed and at rest, the oral cavity is fully occupied by the tongue.

3. Oral Vestibular
a. The oral vestibule is the slit-like space between the lips and cheeks superficially and
the teeth and gingivae deeply.
b. The lips, the mobile, fleshy muscular folds surrounding the mouth, contain the
orbicularis oris and superior and inferior labial muscles, vessels, and nerves.
i. They are covered externally by skin and internally by mucous membrane.
ii. The upper lip has a vertical groove, the philtrum
iii. As the skin of the lips approaches the mouth, it changes color abruptly to
red; this red margin of the lips is the vermillion border, a transitional zone
between the skin and mucous membrane.
iv. The skin of the transitional zone is hairless and so thin that it appears red
because of the underlying capillary bed.
v. The upper lip is supplied by superior labial branches of the facial and infra-
orbital arteries
vi. The lower lip is supplied by inferior labial branches of the facial and mental
arteries.
vii. The upper lip is supplied by the superior labial branches of the infra-orbital
nerves (CN V2), and the lower lip is supplied by the inferior labial branches
of the mental nerves (CN V3)

c. Lymph from the upper lip and lateral parts of the lower lip passes primarily to the
submandibular lymph nodes), whereas lymph from the medial part of the lower lip
passes initially to the submental lymph nodes.
d. The cheeks (L. buccae) include the lateral distensible walls of the oral cavity and the
facial prominences over the zygomatic bones. The cheeks have essentially the same
structure as the lips, with which they are continuous.
i. The principal muscles of the cheeks are the buccinators
ii. The lips and cheeks function as an oral sphincter that pushes food from the
oral vestibule into the oral cavity proper. The tongue and buccinators work
together to keep the food between the occlusal surfaces of the molar teeth
during chewing.
 e. The labial and buccal glands are small mucous glands between the mucous
membrane and the underlying orbicularis oris and buccinator muscles
4. Teeth and gingivae
a. The teeth are hard conical structures set in the dental alveoli (tooth sockets) of the
upper and lower jaws and are used in mastication (chewing) and assisting in
articulation.
b. Children have 20 deciduous (primary) teeth.
i. The first tooth usually erupts at 6 to 8 months of age and the last tooth by
20 to 24 months of age.
c. Eruption of the permanent (secondary) teeth, normally 16 in each jaw (3 molars, 2
premolars, 1 canine, and 2 incisors on each side), usually is complete by the
midteens), except for the third molars (“wisdom teeth”), which usually erupt during
the late teens or early 20s.
d. A tooth has a crown, neck, and root.
i. The crown projects from the gingiva.
ii. The neck is the part of the tooth between the crown and the root
iii. The root is fixed in the alveolus (tooth socket) by the fibrous periodontium
(periodontal membrane).
iv. Most of the tooth is composed of dentine (L. dentinium), which is covered
by enamel over the crown and cement (L. cementum) over the root.
v. The pulp cavity contains connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves
vi. The root canal (pulp canal) transmits the nerves and vessels to and from the
pulp cavity through the apical foramen.

e. The superior and inferior alveolar arteries, branches of the maxillary artery, supply
the maxillary (upper) and the mandibular (lower) teeth, respectively
f. Lymphatic vessels from the teeth and gingivae pass mainly to the submandibular
lymph nodes
g. The superior and inferior alveolar nerves, branches of CN V2 and CN V3,
respectively, form superior and inferior dental plexuses that supply the maxillary
and mandibular teeth
h. The gingivae (gums) are composed of fibrous tissue covered with mucous
 membrane, which is firmly attached to the alveolar processes of the mandible and
maxilla and the necks of the teeth.
i. The buccal gingivae of the mandibular molar teeth are supplied by the
buccal nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve.

ii. The lingual gingivae of all mandibular teeth are supplied by the lingual
nerve.
iii. The palatine gingivae of the maxillary premolar and molar teeth are supplied
by the greater palatine nerve; and the palatine gingivae of the incisors, by
the nasopalatine nerve.
iv. The labial and buccal aspects of the maxillary gingivae are supplied by the
anterior, middle, and posterior superior alveolar nerves.
5. Dental Caries, Pulpitis, and Toothache
a. Decay of the hard tissues of a tooth results in the formation of dental caries
(cavities). Invasion of the pulp of the tooth by a carious lesion (cavity) results in
infection and irritation of the tissues in the pulp cavity. This condition causes an
inflammatory process (pulpitis). Because the pulp cavity is a rigid space, the swollen
pulpal tissues cause pain (toothache).
6. Gingivitis and Periodontitis
a. Improper oral hygiene results in food deposits in tooth and gingival crevices, which
may cause inflammation of the gingivae (gingivitis). If untreated, the disease spreads
to other supporting structures (including the alveolar bone), producing periodontitis.
Periodontitis results in inflammation of the gingivae and may result in absorption of
alveolar bone and gingival recession. Gingival recession exposes the sensitive
cement of the teeth.