The Oral Cavity

• The oral cavity (mouth) consists of two parts: the vestibule and the mouth proper.

• The vestibule is the slit-like spaced between the cheeks and the lips and the teeth and gingivae.
• It is the entrance of the digestive tract and is also used for breathing.
• The vestibule communicates with the exterior through the orifice of the mouth.

• The oral cavity is bounded:
• Externally: by the cheeks and lips.
• Roof of oral cavity: formed by the palate.
• Posteriorly: the oral cavity communicates with the oropharynx.

Intrinsic Muscles of the Tongue

The Superior Longitudinal Muscle of the Tongue

• The muscle forms a thin layer deep to the mucous membrane on the dorsum of the tongue, running from its tip to its root.
• It arises from the submucosal fibrous layer and the lingual septum and inserts mainly into the mucous membrane.

• This muscle curls the tip and sides of the tongue superiorly, making the dorsum of the tongue concave.

The Inferior Longitudinal Muscle of the Tongue

• This muscle consists of a narrow band close to the inferior surface of the tongue.
• It extends from the tip to the root of the tongue.
• Some of its fibres attach to the hyoid bone.

• This muscle curls the tip of the tongue inferiorly, making the dorsum of the tongue convex.

The Transverse Muscle of the Tongue

• This muscle lies deep to the superior longitudinal muscle.
• It arises from the fibrous lingual septum and runs lateral to its right and left margins.
• Its fibres are inserted into the submucosal fibrous tissue.

• The transverse muscle narrows and increases the height of the tongue.

The Vertical Muscle of the Tongue

• This muscle runs inferolaterally from the dorsum of the tongue.
• It flattens and broadens the tongue.
• Acting with the transverse muscle, it increases the length of the tongue.

Muscles Around the Mouth

• The sphincter of the mouth is orbicularis oris and the dilator muscles radiate outward from the lips like the spokes of a wheel.

Orbicularis Oris Muscle

• This muscle encircles the mouth and is the sphincter of the oral aperture
• This muscle (1) closes the lips, (2) protrudes them and (3) compresses them against the teeth.
• It plays an important role in articulation and mastication. Together with the buccinator muscle, it helps to hold the food between the teeth during mastication.

Zygomaticus Major Muscle

• It extends from the zygomatic bone to the angle of the mouth.
• It draws the corner of the moth superolaterally during smiling and laughing.

Zygomaticus Minor Muscle

• This is a narrow slip of muscle, and passes obliquely from the zygomatic bone to the orbicularis oris.
• It helps raise the upper lip when showing contempt or to deepen the nasolabial sulcus when showing sadness.

The Buccinator Muscle

• This is a thin, flat, rectangular muscle.
• It is attached laterally to the alveolar processes of the maxilla and mandible, opposite the molar teeth and the pterygomandibular raphe.
• Medially, its fibres mingle with those of orbicularis oris.Innervation: the buccal branch of facial.

• It aids mastication and swallowing by pushing the cheeks against the molar teeth during chewing.

The Laryngopharynx

• The laryngeal part of the pharynx lies posterior to the larynx.
• It extends from the superior border of the epiglottis to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage, where it narrows to become continuous with the oesophagus.

• Posteriorly, the laryngopharynx is related to the bodies of C4 to C6 vertebrae.

• Its posterior and lateral walls are formed by the middle and inferior constrictor muscles, with the palatopharyngeus and stylopharyngeus internally.

• The laryngopharynx communicates with the larynx through the aditus or inlet of the larynx.
• The piriform recess is a small, pear-shaped depression of the laryngopharyngeal cavity on each side of the inlet of the larynx.

• Skull 
  Cranium
  o    Superior portion formed by the frontal. parietal, and occipital bones
  o    Lateral portions formed by the temporal and sphenoid bones
  o    Cranial base formed by the temporal. sphenoid, and ethmoid bones
  o    Fontanels-soft spots in which ossification is incomplete at birth

  Frontal bone
  o    Forms the forehead
  o    Contains the frontal sinuses
  o    Forms the roof of the orbits
  o    Union with the parietal bones forms the coronal suture

  Parietal bones
  o    Union with the occipital bone forms the lambdoid suture
  o    Union with the temporal bone forms the squamous suture
  o    Union with the sphenoid bone forms the coronal suture

  Temporal bones
  o    Contains the external auditory meatus and middle and inner ear structures
  o    Squamous portion-above the meatus: zygomatic process-articulates with the zygoma
  o    to form the zygomatic arch 

  •    Petrous portion
  o    Contains organs of hearing and equilibrium 
  o    Prominent elevation on the floor of the cranium

  •    Mastoid portion
  o    Protuberance behind the ear

  o    Mastoid process
  •    Glenoid fossa-articulates with the condyle on the mandible
  •    Styloid process-anterior to the mastoid process; several neck muscles attach here
  •    Stylomastoid foramen-located between the styloid and mastoid processes; facial nerve emerges through this opening
  •    Jugular foramen-located between the petrous portion and the occipital bone: cranial nerves IX. X, and XI exit
   

• This is the posterior curtain-like part, and has no bony support. It does, however, contain a membranous aponeurosis.
• The soft palate, or velum palatinum (L. velum, veil), is a movable, fibromuscular fold that is attached to the posterior edge of the hard palate.
• It extends posteroinferiorly to a curved free margin from which hangs a conical process, the uvula (L. uva, grape).

• The soft palate separates the nasopharynx superiorly and the oropharynx inferiorly.

• During swallowing the soft palate moves posteriorly against the wall of the pharynx, preventing the regurgitation of food into the nasal cavity.

• Laterally, the soft palate is continuous with the wall of the pharynx and is joined to the tongue and pharynx by the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds.

• The soft palate is strengthened by the palatine aponeurosis, formed by the expanded tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle.
• This aponeurosis attaches to the posterior margin of the hard palate.