Oral Mucosa Flashcards
What is the mouth, nasal passages, and GI tract lined by?
Mucous membrane
What 2 tissues make up a mucous membrane?
Epithelium
Underlying Connective tissue
What makes up the underlying connective tissue?
Lamina propria
Sometimes the submucosa
What layer are blood vessels located in the mouth?
Lamina propria or Submucosa
What layer are minor salivary glands located?
Submucosa
Where are ducts from minor and major salivary glands located?
Travel through the connective tissue to communicate with the mucosal surface
What are the functions of oral mucosa?
Protection
Aid in digestion
Sensory innervation
What are the types of protection the Oral mucosa provieds?
Barrier
Anti-microbial
Barrier defense of oral mucosa
Epithelium provides a physical barrier for things to not come into contact with deeper underlying tissues
Anti-microbial defense of the oral mucosa
Immune cells are found mostly in the lamina propria, but also found in the epithelium
B-defensins
Anti-microb secreted by teh superficial epithelium of the oral cavity
Large amount is secreted when there is an infection
Cysteine-rich, cationic molecule that binds to negative charges on bacterial membranes
How does the oral mucosa aid in ingestion?
Provides flexibility and a moist surface, making chewing and swallowing easier
Which is capable of more type sensation, oral mucosa, PDL, or pulp?
Oral mucosa
What types of fibers innervate pulp/dentin and what type of sensation do they provide?
C, A-delta, A-beta = mostly pain
What types of fibers innervate the PDL, and what type of sensation do they provide?
C and A-delta = pain
A-beta = proprioceptive
What types of fibers innervate the oral mucosa and what type of sensation do they provide?
A-beta = touch
A-delta and C = pain
A-delta and C = thermal
A-delta = taste
What type of cells are found in oral mucosa epithelium
Stratified Squamous epithelium
What occurs in the deep layers of the oral mucosa epithelium?
Location of cell division
What occurs at the superficial layers of oral epithelium?
This is where cells migrate, mature, become part of the surface, and then slough off
What is the turnover time for gingiva epithelium?
41-57 days
What is the turnover time for cheek epithelium?
25 days
What is the turnover time for taste buds?
10 days
What is the turnover time for junctional epithelium?
5-10 days
What is the cost/benefit of having fast turnover in epithelium
They can heal faster, but it also makes the tissues more vulnerable to conditions that affect cell division (chemotherapy, radiation, ulceration)
What are the most numerous cells of the oral mucosa?
Keratinocytes (aka epithelial cells)
What are the non-keratinocytes found in the oral mucosa?
Merkel cells
Melanocytes
Langerhans (dendritic cells)
Merkel cells
Sensory cells in the basal layer of the epithelium
Melanocytes
Pigment cells in the basal layer of the epithelium