Oral Cavity Flashcards
What is the oral cavity bound by anteriorly, laterally, posteriorly, superiorly, and inferiorly?
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.
What is the oral cavity proper?
the area internal to the dental arches
What is the oral vestibule?
the area outside the dental arches. narrow space between the labii & cheeks and the teeth
How does the oral vestibule communicate with the external environment? when does it become continuous with the oral cavity proper?
via the oral cavity. It becomes continuous with the oral cavity proper posterior to the third molars
What is contained within the oral vestibule?
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 _________________ via the ___________________
oropharynx : oropharyngeal isthmus, the space between the palatoglossal arches
What is contained within the oral cavity proper? (not including the sublingual space)
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.
What is the sublingual space?
the area between the mucosa of the floor of the oral cavity proper and the mylohyoid m.
What is the sublingual space continuous with posterior to the mylohyoid m.?
the submandibular fascial space (inferiorly) and lateral pharyngeal fascial space (posteriorly)
What is the sublingual space continuous with posterior to the mylohyoid m.?
the submandibular fascial space (inferiorly) and lateral pharyngeal fascial space (posteriorly)
What may happen to infections in the sublingual space?
They may spread to adjacent spaces (submandibular, lateral pharyngeal, retropharyngeal, and beyond)
What is ludwig’s angina? How serious is it?
Cellulitis in the sublingual, submandibular, and sometimes submental space that ends up endangering the airway and requiring immediate attention. It is life threatening.
What is contained within the sublingual space?
sublingual glands (and associated ducts), submandibular ducts, lingual aa. (and brs.), lingual vv. (and tributaries), lingual nn. (and associated submandibular ganglia) hypoglossal nn. (and vena comitantes), and the deep lobe of submandibular gland.
What is the smallest of the three main salivary glands? what are they?
the sublingual gland is the smallest. They include the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands
Where is the sublingual gland? When does it become referred to as the “sublingual fold”?
It is located superior to the mylohyoid m. and when covered with mucosa, it forms the sublingual fold
How do the sublingual glands drain?
via numerous small ducts along the sublingual folds
What else is located in the area of the sublingual fold?
The deep, smaller part of the submandibular gland is in this area, closely associated with the posterior end of the sublingual gland.
How is the mylohyoid line formed?
by the attachment of the mylohyoid muscle to the mandible
What two glands are associated with the mylohyoid line?
sublingual gland superior, and submandibular gland inferior
What branch of the external carotid is the lingual a.?
the second branch, typically located anteriorly
What structures does the lingual a. pass through?
between the hyoglossus m. and the middle pharyngeal constrictor m.
What does the lingual a. supply?
the floor of the oral cavity, and the tongue.
What are the chief branches of the lingual a.?
Dorsal lingual brs., Sublingual a., Deep lingual a.
Where do the dorsal lingual brs. arise? What do they supply?
the dorsal lingual brs. arise medially of the hyoglossus m. and supply the posterior tongue, soft palate, and palatine tonsil
Where does the sublingual a. arise? What does it supply?
the sublingual a. arises anteriorly to the hyoglussus m. and supplies the sublingual gland, and muscles and tissues of the floor of the oral cavity.
Where does the deep lingual a. arise? what dies it supply?
the deep lingual a. (terminal branch of the lingual a.) lies along the inferior margin of the tip of the tongue and supplies the anterior tongue.
What do nearly all branches of the lingual artery do along the midline?
anastomose with their contralateral paired artery.
What does the lingual n. cross with deep to the mucosa of the oral cavity proper? Where does it pass?
the submandibular duct. They pass roughly midway through the oral cavity
What does the lingual n. innervate? how does it get there?
The lingual nerve leaves the mandibular n. (V3) of the trigeminal and dives deep to the submandibular duct, the ascends to the anterior base of the tongue where it provides sensory innervation to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue and the floor of the oral cavity
What space does the submandibular duct (Wharton’s) traverse?
the space between the submandibular gland and the sublingual caruncle
Describe the location of the submandibular duct.
The duct is located between the hypoglossal n. and lingual n. in association with the hyoglossus m.
What space does the lingual nerve traverse?
the infratemporal fossa.
Where is the lingual n. in association with the inferior alveolar n.?
It runs medially of the inferior alveolar n.
What nerve joins with the lingual n. just after it branches off of the mandibular n. (V3)? What is its purpose?
the chorda tympani joins with the lingual n. It carries presynaptic parasympathetic fibers from the facial n. to the submandibular gland, and provides taste to the body of the tongue.
Where does the lingual n. enter the oral cavity?
superior to the mylohyoid m.
Where is the submandibular ganglion?
submandibular ganglion is delicately associated with the lingual n. and is superior to the deep portion of the submandibular gland
What are the four named peripheral parasympathetic ganglia?
ciliary, pterygopalatine, submandibular, and otic ganglion
Where does the submandibular ganglion receive preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from?
the submandibular ganglion receives preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the chorda tympani, a branch of the facial n
After synapsing in the submandibular ganglion, postganglionic parasympathetic fibers leave the ganglion to… by means of…
innervate the submandibular and sublingual glands, among other smaller glands (e.g. anterior lingual) by means of the lingual n., a branch of V3.
What is a vena comitans?
it is an “accompanying vein”
What is the vena comitans of the hypoglossal n.? What does it do?
It is a tributary of the lingual v. It accompanies the hypoglossal n. (CNXII) inferiorly along the hypoglossus m.