Ch 2 Flashcards
Oral cavity
Used when referring to the inner portion of the mouth
Alba
White
Oral mucosa
Mucus membrane of the mouth
Oral vestibule
Area between inner lips and cheeks and the front surfaces of the teeth
Oral cavity proper
Extends from lingual surfaces of teeth to the oropharynx
Labial commissure
The closure line of the lips where upper lip meets lower lip
Philtrum
Shallow depression extending from the area below the middle of the nose to the center of the upper lip
Vermilion zone
Pink border of the lips
Nasolabial groove
A shallow depression extending from the corner of the nose to the corner of the lips
Labiomental groove
Shallow linear depression between center of lower lip and the chin
Labial tubercle
A small projection in the middle of the upper lip that may enlarge or thicken
Labial frenum
Elevated fold of soft mucous tissue extending from alveolar mucosa of two central incisors to labial mucosa
Buccal frenum
Elevated fold of soft tissue extending from the alveolar mucosa above the canine or premolar to Buccal mucosa
Maxillary tuberosity
A small rounded extension of bone, covered with soft tissue, posterior to last maxillary tooth
Retromolar area
A triangular area of bone, covered with soft tissue posterior to last mandibular tooth
Stensen’s papilla (parotid papilla)
A small, raised flap of soft tissue on Buccal mucosa opposite the maxillary molar (it is often marked with a tiny red dot, which is the opening to the parotid or Stensen’s salivary gland)
Linea alba
A raised white horizontal extension of soft tissue along the Buccal mucosa at the occlusal line
Gingiva
Pink, stippled mucosa surrounding the necks of the teeth and covering the bone in which teeth are anchored
Fordyce granules
Small yellow spots on Buccal mucosa and inner lip which are sebaceous glands and have no clinical significance
Anterior tonsillar pillar
Folds of tissue that extend horizontally from the uvula to the base of the tongue
Posterior tonsillar pillar
A set of arches of tissue set farther back in the throat than the anterior tonsillar pillar
Palate
The concave surface that is known as the roof of the mouth and is divided into the hard and soft palate
Hard palate
The bony anterior two/thirds of the palate
Soft palate
The posterior third of the palate, comprised of muscular fibers covered with mucosa; highly vascular
Palatine torus
A bony prominence of varied size located at the midline of the hard palate
Incisive papilla
A small raised rounded structure of soft tissue at the anterior midline of
the hard palate
Palatine raphe
A junction of soft tissue extending vertically along the entire midline of the hard palate
Palatine rugae
Paired raised, transverse palatine folds of soft tissue on the anterior portion of the hard palate, prevent food from adhering to the palate
Fovea palatinus
Two small indentations, one on either side of the raphe, located at the junction of the hard and soft palate
Uvula
Downward projection of the soft palate comprised of connective tissue, muscles, and glands
