Lips
Border of the entrance of the oral cavity; reddish in color due to the thin unkeratinized layer.
Vermillion border of the lips
Transitional zone between the skin of the face and the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.
Tubercle of lip
midline protursion of the red zone of the upper lip
philtrum
shallow midline vshaped depression extending from the base of the nose to the turbercle of the upper lip
commisure of the lips
union between the upper and lower lip at the corner of the mouth
dental arches
u shaped arrangement of the teeth in the maxilla and mandible
vesitbule
space between the cheek and the tissue covering the bone of the upper and lower jaws
labial frenii
tissue seen at the midline connecting the inside of the upper and lower lips to the upper and lower jaws
buccal frenii
tissue seen traversing the vestibule adjacent to canines and premolars connecting the cheek muscles to the upper and lower jaws
lingual frenum
tissue seen under the tongue that attaches the tongue to the lower jaw
parotid papilla
rounded elvation of mucous membrane of cheek adjacent to upper first and second molars: covers the opening of the parotid gland duct
palate
roof of mouth
hard palate
anterior two thirds of the roof of the mouth formed by bony parts of the facial skeleton and covered by thick layer of keratinized (dense) immovable tissue
soft palate
freely mobile mucous membrane forming the posterior one third of the palate
vibrating line
junction between movable and immovable tissue near the junction of the hard and soft palate
incisive papilla
oval or pear shaped prominence of soft tissue on the hard palate in the midline immediately behind the maxillary central incisors
palatine rugae
irregular transverse ridges of dense connective tissue radiating latterally from the incisive papilla and the antierior most part of the hard palate
fovea palatinae
pair of pitted depressions representing the openings of palatine glands located close to the midline and immediately behind the junction of the hard and soft palate
uvula
a small fleshy structure hanging from the center of the posterior part of the soft palate
anterior and posterior pillars of fauces
the arched opening in the back of the oral cavity leading to the esophagus is called the fauces. on either side of the fauces there are two folds of tissue running laterally from the uvula called the anterior and posterior arches or pillar
maxillary tuberosity
rounded bony prominence forming the most posterior part of the maxillary alveolar process
terminal sulcus
v shaped grooved on the tongue that separates the anterior two thirds from teh posterior one third. the apex of the v points backwards
foramen cecum
a deep blind pit at the apex of the terminal sulcus that marks the remains of the thyroglossal duct from which the developemnt of the thyroid gland started
circumvallate papillae
large flat round prominences on the posterior of the tongue, arranged in a v shaped row, immediately in front of the terminal sulcus
filiform papillae
numerous densely arranged hair like highly keratinized papillae occupying the entire dorsal surface of the tongue in front of the circumvallate papullae. they give the tongue a rough texture
fungiform papillae
small round bright red elevations scattered and sparsely distributed between the filiform papillae. they are concentrated more near the tip and lateral borders of the tongue and contain some taste buds.
foliate papillae
irregularly arrnaged folds or projections containing numerous taste buds found on the lateral borders of the tongue in the posterior one third
ventral surface of the tongue
under surface of the tongue which is continuous with the soft tissue of the floor of the mouth
plica fimbriata
irregularly scalloped fold of the mucous membrane on the ventral surface of the tongue on each side and lateral to the lingual frenum
sublingual folds
folds of tissue in the floor of the mouth extending from the first molar on either side to lingual frenum. ducts of sublingual salivary glands open along these folds
sublingual caruncles (wharton's duct openings)
a pair of papillae under the tongue in the midline between the sublingual folds. each papillae contains an opening of the submandibular salivary glands
gingiva
soft pink tissue attached to the teeth and supporting bone
free gingiva
the portion of the gingival tissue surrounding each tooth from the gingival margin to the point where it attaches to the teeth. the trough thus formed around the teeth is referred to as teh gingival crevice or sulcus and is normally 1-3 mm in depth
interdental papilla
the v shaped gingival tissue between the teeth
attached ginviga
light pink colored gingival tissue surrounding all teeth. does not include the free gingiva
alveolar mucosa
zone of mucous membrane beyond the attached gingiva covering the alveolar processes of the maxilla and mandible
mucogingival junction
scalloped line between the attached gingiva and the alveolar mucosa. parallels the free margin of the gingiva