Oral Cavity - LO 1
1. What are the boundaries, subdivisions and contents of the oral cavity?
The oral cavity is the area bounded:
anteriorly by the lips,
laterally by the cheeks,
posteriorly by the palatoglossal arches,
superiorly by the hard & soft palates, and
inferiorly by the mylohyoid m.
The oral cavity can be divided into the oral cavity proper and the oral vestibule. The occlusal plane of the teeth divides these areas: oral cavity proper is internal to dental arches, and the oral vestibule is external.
The oral vestibule is a narrow space between the labii & cheeks and the teeth. The oral vestibule communicates with the external environment via the oral fissure, and is continuous with the oral cavity proper posterior to the 3rd molars.
The oral vestibule contains the:
buccal surfaces of the teeth, alveolar processes, and associated gingivae,
papillae & openings of the parotid (Stensen’s) ducts,
openings of numerous minor salivary glands,
frenulum of upper lip, and
frenulum of lower lip.
The oral cavity proper is continuous with the oropharynx (via the oropharyngeal isthmus, the space between the palatoglossal arches). The oral cavity proper technically also contains the sublingual space, but this region is often conceptualized separately.
The oral cavity proper (exclusive of the sublingual space) contains the:
lingual surfaces of teeth, alveolar processes, and associated gingivae,
tongue (body),
lingual frenulum
sublingual caruncles & openings of the submandibular (Wharton’s) ducts,
sublingual folds & openings of the sublingual ducts, and
openings of numerous minor salivary glands.
