Oral Mucosa Flashcards
what is the oral mucosa?
membrane which covers entirety of oral cavity
vast tissue with regional variations
but has common structural component which is present in all oral mucosa
differences between oral mucosa and skin?
1) colour- (oral mucosa is pink, blackish tinge in dark people)
2) moisture- mucous membrane is constantly moist
skin- only sweat when u have to
3) appendages - oral mucosa doesn’t have (such as hair follicles, sweat + sebaceous glands)
why is the oral mucosa constantly moist?
minor salivary glands embedded underneath the oral mucous membrane
secrete saliva continuously
keeps all surfaces moist
COVERED BY viscous thin membrane all the time
functions of oral mucosa tissue:
(5)
there is a continuation from oral cavity mucosa to the GUT’s mucosa (different tissue)
1) protection
2) sensation
3) secretion
4) absorption
5) thermal regulation
what is the vermillion border?
interface between skin and oral mucosa at edge of lips
mucous membrane which forms the lips (slight diff to the oral cavity’s mucous membrane)
how does the oral mucosa act as a barrier?
1) first barrier against constant mechanical mastication stimuli which occurs in the mouth which could harm underlying tissues under mucosa
forms barrier against chemicals + abrasive threats
2) antimicrobial activity from saliva + secretions from gingival sulcus (have antimicrobial peptides)
how does the oral mucosa help with sensation?
1) neuroreceptors embedded under OM
-> sensitive to touch/ pain/ temp
2) taste buds embedded in tongue/ throat/ palate
-> help people taste
secretory function of OM?
hundreds of MINOR salivary glands
embedded in membrane
continuously secrete saliva
absorbtive function of OM?
if someone has ischaemic heart disease -> chest pain
-> spray/ sublingual tablet
floor of mouth have very high absorptive rate, absorb med + release into blood stream very quickly
thermoregulatory function of OM in ANIMALS ?
pant
saliva evaporates
regulates their body temp
3 types of oral mucosa
1) masticatory mucosa
2) lining mucosa
3) specialised mucosa
where is the masticatory mucosa found?
- areas which are subject to masticatory forces
- present in gingiva
- present in hard palate
- (tongue has a bit)
- has an extra protective layer= KERATIN -> protects mucous membrane + underlying structures from masticatory forces
lining mucosa
areas not subject to masticatory forces
-> found in labio, inferior surface of tongue, floor of mouth, bucco
not keratinised
specialised mucosa
dorsal surface of tongue (top of tongue)
what are lingual tonsils?
structure of tongue?
how does masticatory mucosa protect the oral mucosa and
how does masticatory mucosa protect the oral mucosa and
what is the function of the oral mucosa?
protection
sensation
secretion
absorption
structure of OM is?
main structural component repeated in various parts of body with minor differences
3 main structural components of OM?
1) covering epithelial tissue
2) supporting lamina propia (supporting connective tissue)
2) sub- mucosa (present in most OM but absent at certain sites)
what is epithelial tissue?
closely packed layer of cells which cover/ line a surface (organ) or hole (cavity) in body
2 diff types of epithelium?
simple epithelium- 1 layer
stratified epithelium- multiple layers
4 ways epithelium are classified by shape:
1) squamous- flat
2) cuboidal
3) columnar- simple or pseudo columnar (not stratified but looks stratified)
4) transitional- specialised type in urinary tract
how are the cells tightly packed together in epithelial layer?
different types of connection between cells
connected via cell membranes at side
by different complex structures
cells still connected in intracellular space
what is the adherens junction?
made of transmembranous proteins which help cells attach to each other= CADHERINS
what are cadherins?
membrane proteins that form adherens junctions between cells, linking them together and providing mechanical stability to tissues
when cell membrane on each side of cell thicken
different filaments made by cadherin proteins
which lodge themselves into plaques of thickenings
+ connect cells together
how many types of cellular adhesions between epithelial cells which keep them very tightly attached to each other?
3
