The oral cavity is the part of the human anatomy which consists of several structures located in the mouth. It also includes parts of the nasal, jaw, and facial bones that are visible when someone smiles. The oral cavity can be divided into two parts: (1) soft tissue, which is the space between the lips or cheeks and the teeth and (2) hard tissue, the region medial to the teeth.
Oral cavity divisions
There are three major divisions: The vestibule includes the floor of the mouth where it is adjacent to the teeth and the tongue. The oral part is adjacent to the maxillary teeth, palate and the gingiva. The pharyngeal part of the oral cavity includes the tonsils and the palatoglossal arches.
Hard tissue
The hard tissues of humans are bone, tooth enamel, dentin, and cementum. The tissues of the oral cavity are the teeth, the gingival tissues, the alveolar ridge, the palate and the floor of the mouth. The teeth are the most important part of the this type of oral cavity. They consist of enamel, dentin and cementum. The gingiva is the soft tissue that covers the crown of the teeth and the periodontal ligament. The palate is the roof of the mouth and consists of the palatine bones, the palatoglossal arches and the uvula.
Soft tissue
The tongue, cheeks, gum, and lips are the soft tissues in the mouth. Each area is sensitive and contains a large number of blood vessels; hence whenever they are injured they bleed easily and profusely. The oral cavity is lined by a mucous membrane (the oral mucosa) consisting of a stratified squamous epithelium, which may or may not be keratinized, and an underlying connective tissue layer, the lamina propria.
Conclusion
It has many different functions and consists of a distinct layered structure that is similar to the structure and function of skin.
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