Oral Mucosa Flashcards
What is the oral mucosa
Mucous membrane that lines the oral cavity
Functions of the oral mucosa
Protection - barrier from infection, abrasion and protects underlying tissues.
Sensation - sensory receptors and reflexes.
Secretion - saliva from minor saliva ducts to reduce trauma.
Types of oral mucosa
Lining mucosa
Masticatory mucosa
Specialised mucosa
What structures are covered by the lining oral mucosa
Buccal/labial mucosa
Floor of mouth
Ventral surface of tongue
Alveolar mucosa
Soft palate
Clinical appearance of lining oral mucosa
Softer surface texture
Moist surface
Ability to be stretched and compressed
What do sebum deposits from misplaced sebaceous glands caused?
Fordyce spots
Where are fordyce spots found?
Sub mucosa
What type of epithelium is the lining oral mucosa
Non keratinised stratified squamous
What’s the structure/histology of lining oral mucosa
- Non keratinised stratified squamous
- Fewer and less pronounced rete ridges and papillae
- More elastic fibres for speech and swallowing
- Large submucosa layer for compression of underlying tissues.
What happens to infection in the lining mucosa?
Spreads rapidly
What structures are covered by the masticatory oral mucosa?
Attached gingivae
Hard palate
Dorsum of tongue
Clinical appearance of masticatory oral mucosa
Rubbery surface texture
Firm and resiliance
No movement
What type of epithelium is the masticatory oral mucosa
Ortho/para keratinised stratified squamous
Where would you find ortho keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
Hard palate
Attached gingiva
Where would you find para keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
Dorsum of tongue
Parts of attached gingiva
What does a thin or non existent submucosa provide function too
Aids with hard surfaces in the mouth for eating and speaking such as the hard palate
Histology/structure of keratinised oral epithelium
More rete ridges and bone underlying - gives a firmer base and structure
Structures associated with specialised oral mucosa
Lingual papillae
Where are lingual papillae located
Dorsal and lingual surfaces of tongue
Which type of epithelium is specialised oral mucosa
Ortho/para keratinised stratified squamous
Cell turnover time for hard palate
24 days
How many times faster does non keratinised oral mucosa turn over than keratinised mucosa
1.5 times faster
What might cause non keratinised epithelium to transform into keratinising type
Frictional or chemical trauma
What would non keratinised epithelium become if suffers from frictional or chemical trauma
Hyperkeratinised - Orthokeratinised epithelium with keratin and granular layer.
What term is referred to the vertical white lines on buccal mucosa
Linea alba
How is oral pigmentation formed
Melanocytes sit in the basal layer and store melamine.
This is injected to newly formed epithelial cells.
As tissue ages, these cells will migrate to the surface causing pigmentation.
Examples of how other colour changes may occur in the mouth:
Drug induced - chemo, tetracycline
Infection - kaposi sarcoma
Iatrogenic - amalgam tattoo
Self inflicted tattoos
