Anatomy of the oral cavity (dentistry)

The mouth, or the oral cavity, does a variety of jobs that range from playing the trumpet, or kissing, to more vital roles like chewing and swallowing your favorite food.

It’s the point of entry into the gastrointestinal system but also acts as an alternative respiratory pathway in case your nose gets blocked and helps produce and modify sound when you speak or sing.

Now, the oral cavity is a space that extends from the inner surface of the lips to the beginning of the oropharynx, which is marked by the junction of the hard and soft palate above; the anterior pillars, or the palatoglossal arches, laterally; and the terminal sulcus of the tongue below.

The roof of the oral cavity is formed by the palate, which separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity above.

At the bottom, the mylohyoid muscle forms a muscular diaphragm that supports the tongue and the structures of the floor of the mouth.

Finally, the lateral walls of the oral cavity are formed by the cheeks.

The oral cavity is divided by the teeth and the inner oral mucosa into two parts; the smaller, oral vestibule, and the larger, oral cavity proper.

The oral vestibule is a small slit-like space between the teeth and inner mucosal lining of the lips and cheeks.

The mucosa of the lips and cheeks continues onto the gingiva to form the superior and inferior boundaries of the vestibule.

The oral cavity proper is the space contained within the upper and lower dental arches.

It extends from the inner surface of the teeth and communicates with the oropharynx posteriorly.

Now, when the mouth is open, the oral vestibule becomes continuous with the oral cavity proper.

However, some amount of communication is maintained even when the jaws are shut.

This is achieved through a tiny space called the retromolar fossa, which lies behind the third molar teeth and the ramus of the mandible.