Gastro 3

Question 2

What are the main anatomical components of the oral cavity?

Answer 2

A: The oral (or buccal) cavity is bounded by the lips (anterior), cheeks (lateral), palate (superior), and tongue (inferior). Most surfaces are lined with stratified squamous epithelium, while areas subject to high friction (e.g., gingiva) are covered by keratinized epithelium.

Question 3

How does the hard palate develop and what is its functional significance?

Answer 3

A: During embryonic development, palatine shelves (from the maxillary processes) elevate and fuse with the primary palate to form the hard palate. This fusion separates the oral and nasal cavities, facilitating effective deglutition by providing a rigid surface against which the tongue can propel food.

Question 4

Describe the structure and function of the tongue in the oral cavity.

Answer 4

A: The tongue is composed of interlacing intrinsic and extrinsic skeletal muscle fibers, allowing manipulation of food for mastication and bolus formation. Its surface is covered with various papillae—filiform (tactile function), fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate (gustatory function)—and contains taste buds that detect taste modalities.

Question 5

How do the salivary glands contribute to the digestive functions of the oral cavity?

Answer 5

A: Salivary glands (both major and minor) secrete saliva, which lubricates food, aids in bolus formation, and initiates chemical digestion (via enzymes such as α-amylase and lingual lipase). Saliva also provides antimicrobial protection and helps maintain optimal pH for enzymatic activity.

Question 6

The oral cavity is defined by its boundaries:

Answer 6

lips, cheeks, palate, and tongue.

Question 7

Stratified squamous epithelium lines most of the cavity;

Answer 7

keratinization occurs in high-friction areas like the gingiva.

Question 8

The hard palate, formed by fusion of palatine shelves, separates the nasal and oral cavities.

Answer 8

fusion of palatine shelves, separates the nasal and oral cavities.

Question 9

Cleft palate is a common congenital defect that can

Answer 9

impair suckling and speech.

Question 10

The tongue contains four types of papillae, with

Answer 10

fungiform and circumvallate papillae playing key roles in taste perception.

Question 11

Salivary glands produce 1000–1500 mL of saliva daily, which is ~99.5% water and 0.5% solutes, essential for

Answer 11

lubrication, digestion, and antimicrobial defense.

Question 12

Sublingual and buccal drug administration exploit the

Answer 12

thin, vascular mucosa for rapid absorption.

Question 13

The entire oral cavity is lined by keratinized epithelium.

Answer 13

False – Only areas subjected to high friction (like the gingiva) are keratinized; most of the cavity is lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 14

Fusion of the palatine shelves during embryonic development separates the oral and nasal cavities.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Cleft palate is solely a cosmetic defect with no impact on feeding or speech.

Answer 15

False – Cleft palate significantly affects feeding (e.g., suckling difficulties) and speech development.

Question 16

The lingual frenulum limits excessive posterior movement of the tongue.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Saliva is mostly composed of water with a small fraction of solutes essential for digestion.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

The ______ palate is the rigid, bony part of the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities.

Answer 18

Hard

Question 19

Regions such as the gingiva are covered with ______ epithelial cells to protect against friction.

Answer 19

Keratinized

Question 20

______ papillae, arranged in parallel rows on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, primarily function in tactile sensation.

Answer 20

Filiform

Question 21

The thin mucosal tissue that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth is called the ______ frenulum.

Answer 21

Lingual

Question 22

The major serous salivary gland that secretes a watery, enzyme-rich saliva is the ______ gland.

Answer 22

Parotid

Question 23

Which structure forms the superior boundary of the oral cavity?
A) Lips
B) Cheeks
C) Palate
D) Tongue

Answer 23

A: C) Palate

Question 24

Cleft palate results from a failure of the palatine shelves to:
A) Elevate properly
B) Fuse with the primary palate
C) Develop into the soft palate
D) Separate from the tongue

Answer 24

A: B) Fuse with the primary palate

Question 25

Which type of papillae is primarily responsible for taste sensation and is most abundant at the tip of the tongue?
A) Filiform
B) Fungiform
C) Circumvallate
D) Foliate

Answer 25

A: B) Fungiform

Question 26

The major function of saliva in the oral cavity is to: A) Provide a protective barrier only B) Initiate chemical digestion and lubricate food C) Absorb nutrients directly D) Produce gastric acid

Answer 26

A: B) Initiate chemical digestion and lubricate food

Question 27

Which accessory organ of the oral cavity is directly involved in drug administration due to its thin, vascular mucosa? A) Tongue B) Palate C) Gingiva D) Sublingual region

Answer 27

A: D) Sublingual regioN

Question 28

A newborn is diagnosed with a cleft palate, resulting in feeding difficulties. Question: How does a cleft palate impair the functions of the oral cavity, and what treatment strategies can be implemented?

Answer 28

A: A cleft palate disrupts the normal separation between the oral and nasal cavities, impairing effective suckling and food bolus formation. This can lead to inadequate nutrition and speech issues later on. Treatment typically involves surgical repair to close the defect and specialized feeding techniques to support early development.

Question 29

An adult patient reports chronic dry mouth and diminished taste perception. Question: What potential condition could cause these symptoms, and how might it affect overall oral function?

Answer 29

A: The symptoms may indicate xerostomia (reduced saliva production), which can impair lubrication, mastication, and the initiation of digestion, as well as diminish taste perception. Causes may include medication side effects, autoimmune conditions, or dehydration. Management might involve salivary stimulants, improved hydration, or adjusting medications.

Question 30

A patient with ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) experiences difficulty articulating speech and manipulating food during mastication. Question: How does ankyloglossia affect oral function, and what is the typical intervention?

Answer 30

A: Ankyloglossia restricts the tongue’s mobility, impairing speech clarity, effective mastication, and proper food bolus formation. The standard treatment is a frenotomy or frenuloplasty to release the tongue from the restrictive frenulum.

Question 31

What are cleft palate and cleft lip, and how do they affect oral function?

Answer 31

A: Cleft palate and cleft lip result from defects in the fusion of the lateral nasal, medial nasal, and maxillary processes during development. These conditions disrupt the separation between the oral and nasal cavities, leading to feeding difficulties (e.g., poor suckling in infants) and speech problems.

Question 32

Hard Palate:

Answer 32

The anterior bony part of the palate that separates the oral and nasal cavities and provides a rigid surface for mastication.

Question 33

Oral Cavity (Buccal Cavity):

Answer 33

The entry point of the digestive system, bordered by the lips, cheeks, palate, and tongue.

Question 34

Cleft Palate:

Answer 34

A congenital defect resulting from failure of the palatine shelves to fuse, leading to an abnormal opening between the oral and nasal cavities.

Question 35

Lingual Frenulum:

Answer 35

The thin tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, which helps regulate tongue movement.

Question 36

Salivary Glands:

Answer 36

Glands (both major and minor) that secrete saliva, which lubricates food, initiates chemical digestion, and provides antimicrobial protection.

Question 37

Papillae:

Answer 37

Projections on the tongue’s surface; filiform papillae provide tactile sensation, while fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae contain taste buds.

Question 38

Ankyloglossia:

Answer 38

Also known as tongue-tie, a condition where a short lingual frenulum restricts tongue movement.

Question 39

Xerostomia:

Answer 39

A condition characterized by dry mouth due to reduced saliva production.