Functions and structure of the oral cavity. Anatomy of the human oral cavity Muscles of the human oral cavity

Section description

The oral cavity is the beginning of the digestive tract. In this area, not only the fact of chewing occurs: the mucous membrane of the human oral cavity is involved in the very process of digesting food.

Structure of the human oral cavity

The anatomy of the oral cavity consists of the following parts:

teeth;
gums;
language;
sky;
tonsils;
tongue

The oral cavity begins with the vestibule, limited by the lips and dentition. The lateral parts of the section are closed by the cheeks. From above, the oral cavity is limited by the soft and hard palate. The muscular system of the diaphragm closes the area in the lower section. The tongue on the palate is considered to be the conventional border of the oral cavity with the pharynx.

The structure of the oral mucosa has its own characteristics. Thanks to them, it is resistant to chemical and physical irritants. The membranes in question in the oral cavity are able to resist the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. They are endowed with excellent regenerative ability.

Structure of the oral cavity:

Epithelium (consists of several layers of cells).
Basement membrane.
Submucosal tissue.

It is worth noting that different parts of the organ in question have an unequal ratio of the listed layers. The tongue, gums and palate are endowed with powerful epithelium. Submucosal tissue is predominantly developed in the area of the floor of the oral cavity. The lips and cheeks have a clearly defined lamina propria.

The oral mucosa (or oral mucosa for short) is involved in the production of salivary fluid. It is equipped with a fairly large number of glands.

The lips consist of several sections and represent a musculocutaneous groove. Let's consider these zones:

The skin part is located outside, it is covered with keratinized epithelium. In this area there are ducts that produce sebum and ensure the secretion of sweat.
The intermediate part is covered with pinkish skin. The border of the transition to the mucous membrane is called the border. It is painted bright red. This area is supplied with many nerve plexuses and blood vessels, which determines its sensitivity.
Mucous tissue lines the inner surface of the lips. It is covered by squamous epithelium.
The cheeks are muscles containing fat cells covered with skin tissue. This is a symmetrical area.

The gums can also be divided into several parts. They all consist of a mucous membrane.

The free area or marginal zone is lined with smooth tissue surrounding the dental necks.
The groove is located between the units of the jaw row and the gum.
Interdental papillae are localized between adjacent teeth.
The alveolar part is attached to the periosteum and roots.

In adulthood, teeth number 28–32 units, consisting of a crown part. It is covered with an enamel layer consisting of mineral substances. It has no sensitivity, protecting the nerve from irritants. The crown passes through the neck of the tooth into the root.

Units of the dentition are usually divided into the following types:

Incisors.
Fangs.
Premolars.
Molars.

Let's look at common acquired diseases:

Stomatitis is an inflammatory process on the mucous membranes, provoked by pathogenic microorganisms. During its development, the tissues become covered with plaque, erosions, and papules.
Caries is a disease that affects the hard tissues of the crown of the tooth. In essence, it is rotting caused by bacteria and their metabolic products.
- common gum disease. It is caused by the occurrence of an inflammatory process on the upper layers of tissue. It manifests itself as bleeding gums, swelling and redness. If the disease is not treated, it will progress, covering deeper layers. In this case, tooth loss also develops.

Experts draw attention to the fact that the oral cavity is a unique formation that plays an important role in human life. The main task is to keep it in a healthy state. To do this, it is necessary to promptly treat emerging pathologies, strengthen the immune system and not miss a preventive examination at the dentist.

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Oral cavity, located at the bottom of the head, is the beginning of the digestive system. This space is limited below by the muscles of the upper neck, which form the diaphragm (bottom) of the mouth; above is the palate, which separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. The oral cavity is limited on the sides by the cheeks, in the front by the lips, and at the back through a wide opening by the pharynx; the oral cavity communicates with the pharynx. In the oral cavity there are itches, the tongue, and flows of large and small salivary glands open into it. The oral cavity is divided into a smaller anterior section - the vestibule of the mouth and the oral cavity itself. The vestibule of the mouth is limited in front by the lips, on the sides by the inner surface of the cheeks, and behind and on the medial side by the teeth and gums. Inward from the gums and teeth is the oral cavity itself.

Oral cavity. 1. Upper lip (lat. Labium superius) 2. Gums (lat. Gingiva) 3. Hard palate (lat. Palatum durum) 4. Soft palate (lat. Palatum molle) 5. Uvula (lat. Uvula palatina) 6. Palatine tonsil (lat. Tonsilla palatina) 7. Isthmus of the pharynx (lat. Isthmus faucium) 8. Large molars (lat. Dentates molares) 9. Small molars (lat. Dentates premolares) 10. Fang(s) (lat. Dentes canini ) 11. Incisors (lat. Dentes incisivi) 12. Tongue (lat. Lingua)

Gums They are the alveolar processes of the upper jaws and the alveolar part of the lower jaw, covered with mucous membrane. The vestibule and the oral cavity itself communicate through a narrow gap between the upper and lower teeth.

Mouth gap limited by the upper and lower lips, connected laterally on each side by the labial commissure (labial commissure). The basis of the lips is the orbicularis oris muscle. The mucous membrane of the lips in the vestibule of the mouth passes onto the alveolar orthos and the alveolar part of the jaw, forming the frenulum of the upper lip and the frenulum of the lower lip.

Cheeks They are based on the buccal muscle. Between the muscle and the skin there is an accumulation of adipose tissue - the fatty body of the cheek, or the fatty lump of Bichat, which is most developed in infants. At this age, the fatty lump thickens the wall of the oral cavity, helps reduce the effect of atmospheric pressure on the oral cavity and facilitates sucking.

On the mucous membrane of the cheek, on the threshold of the mouth, the excretory duct of the parotid salivary gland opens. The mouth of this duct is located at the level of the second upper molar and sometimes forms parotid papilla.

Teeth

Teeth(dentes) are important anatomical formations located in the dental alveoli of the jaws. Depending on the structural features, position and function, several groups of teeth are distinguished: incisors, canines, small molars (premolars), and large molars (molars).

The incisors are intended mainly for grasping food and biting, the fangs are for crushing it, and the molars are for grinding and grinding food. Despite the division of teeth into different groups, all teeth have a common structural plan. The structure of a tooth is divided into crown, neck and root.

Crown of the tooth, the most massive part protruding above the gum has several surfaces. Lingual surface crowns facing the tongue, vestibular (facial) surface– towards the vestibule of the mouth, the contact surface – towards the adjacent tooth. The chewing surfaces, or the surface of closure, are similar teeth of the upper and lower jaws facing each other. Inside the crown is the crown cavity. Containing pulp and continuing into the root canal of the tooth.

Tooth root is located in the dental alveolus, with the walls of which it is connected by a special type of synarthrosis - impaction. Each tooth has from one (incisors, canines) to two or three (molars) roots. Inside each root there is a tooth canal, also filled with pulp. The root of the tooth ends with an apex that has an opening through which an artery, nerve, and vein exit into the tooth cavity.

Between the crown and the root is neck of the tooth , which covers the mucous membrane of the gums.

The substance of the tooth consists of dentin, enamel and cement. Dentin forms the bulk of the tooth and root canal. The outside of the tooth crown is covered with enamel, and the root is covered with cement. In the dental alveoli, the roots of the teeth are tightly fused with the periosteum of the alveoli.

Dog teeth: 1, 2, 3 - incisors, 4 - canines, 5 - premolars, 6 - molars

The first teeth appear in children 5-7 months old, and at the age of 2-2.5 years their number reaches 20. These are baby teeth. In children aged 5-7 years, baby teeth begin to fall out and permanent teeth appear in their place. In an adult, there are normally 32 teeth in the dental alveoli.

Each half of the upper jaw and each half of the lower jaw have 8 permanent teeth: 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 small molars.

Incisors have a flattened wide crown with a cutting surface. The crown of the upper incisors is wider than the lower ones. The root of the incisors is single cone-shaped; in the lower incisors the root is compressed from the sides. Depending on their location in relation to the median plane, lateral and medial incisors are distinguished.

Fangs have a conical, pointed crown. The root is single, long, compressed from the sides. The root of the lower canines is shorter than that of the upper ones. Sometimes the root of the lower canines is forked.

Small molars (premolars) are located behind the canine. The crown of the premolars on the side of the chewing surface is round or oval, has two chewing tubercles. The height of the crown is less than that of the canines. The root of the premolars is single, conical in shape; in the upper premolar it is sometimes bifurcated.

Large molars (molars) located behind the premolars. The crown of large molars is usually cubic in shape, with 3-5 tubercles on the chewing surface. The large molars of the upper jaw have 3, and the lower - 2 roots. The size of the molars decreases from front to back. The third molar (wisdom tooth) is the smallest.

Language

The human tongue is formed by striated (cross-striped) muscle tissue covered with a mucous membrane. The tongue is involved in the mechanical processing of food, in the act of swallowing, in taste perception, and in the articulation of speech. It is located in the oral cavity and is a flattened muscular organ stretched from front to back. Anteriorly, the tongue narrows, forming the apex of the tongue. The apex passes posteriorly into a wide and thick body of tongue behind which is located root of the tongue.

The mucous membrane of the tongue is covered with non-keratinizing stratified (flat) squamous epithelium. The mucous membrane of the back and edges of the tongue is devoid of submucosa and is directly adherent to the muscles. The anterior section of the dorsum of the tongue is dotted with many papillae, which are outgrowths of the lamina propria of the mucous membrane, covered with epithelium. Humans have four types of papillae: filamentous, mushroom-shaped, grooved and leaf-shaped. There are most filiform papillae on the back of the tongue; they give the tongue its velvety appearance.

Filiform and cone-shaped papillae– the most numerous, located diffusely in the area of the entire back of the tongue, have a length of about 0.3 mm. Fungiform papillae are located mainly at the top and along the edges of the tongue. Their base is narrowed and their apex is widened. The length of these papillae is 0.7 - 1.8 mm, diameter - 0.4 - 1.0 mm. In the thickness of the epithelium of the fungiform papillae there are taste buds (3-4 in each papilla), which have taste sensitivity.

Vital papillae, or papillae, surrounded by a shaft, 7-12 located on the border of the body and the root of the tongue, anterior to the border groove. The length of the circumvallate papillae is 1 – 1.5 mm, diameter – 1-3 mm. The circumvallate papillae have a narrow base and an expanded, flattened free part. Around the papilla there is a ring-shaped depression (groove), separating the papilla from the thickened ridge surrounding it. Numerous taste buds are located in the epithelium of the lateral surfaces of the circumvallate papilla and the surrounding ridge.

Leaf-shaped papillae in the form of flat plates, each 2–5 mm long, located on the edges of the tongue; they also contain taste buds.

Muscles of the tongue. Among the muscles of the tongue, paired, striated, there are proper muscles and muscles starting on the bones of the skeleton (skeletal muscles). The intrinsic muscles of the tongue begin and end within the tongue, while the skeletal muscles have a bony origin.

Muscle	Start	Attachment	Function	Innervation
Chin-	Chin- lower spine her jaw	Top and tongue base	Tongue pulls anteriorly and	Upper guttural
Sublingual-	Body and pain shoy horn of the sublingual	Lateral part of the tongue	Tongue pulls downwards and backwards	Inferior laryngeal nerve
Styloglossus muscle	Styloid process of the temporal bone	Lateral and inferior parts of the tongue	Pulls the tongue backwards and upwards

Own muscles of the tongue . The superior longitudinal muscle is located on the sides of the median groove of the tongue, under its mucous membrane. This muscle begins at the root of the tongue and ends at its tip. When contracted, the superior longitudinal muscle shortens the tongue and raises its apex.

Transverse tongue muscle represented by bundles existing between the upper and lower longitudinal muscles from the fibrous septum of the tongue transversely to its edges. The muscle constricts the tongue, raising its back.

Vertical muscle The tongue is located mainly in the lateral parts of the tongue, located between the mucous membrane of the back and the lower surface of the tongue. By contracting, it flattens the tongue.

Skeletal muscles of the tongue. Genioglossus muscle begins on the mental spine of the lower jaw, goes fan-shaped upward and posteriorly on the sides of the septum of the tongue and ends in its thickness. When contracting, it pulls the tongue down and forward.

The hyoid-glossus muscle comes from the greater horn and the body of the hyoid bone, ending in the lateral parts of the tongue. Moves the tongue down and back.

The styloglossus muscle begins on the styloid process of the temporal bone, goes forward, medially and downward, intertwining laterally into the thickness of the tongue. With unilateral contraction, it moves the tongue to the side.

Innervation. The motor innervation of the tongue muscles is carried out by the hypoglossal nerve (XII pair). Sensitive innervation of the mucous membrane in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is carried out by the endings of the lingual nerve (from the mandibular nerve - the third branch of the trigeminal nerve, V pair), in the posterior third of the tongue - by the endings of the glossopharyngeal nerve (XI pair), and a branch approaches the mucous membrane in the area of the root of the tongue from the superior laryngeal nerve (from the vagus nerve, X pair). Taste innervation in the posterior third of the tongue is carried out by the glossopharyngeal nerve, and in the two anterior ones - from the facial nerve through the chorda tympani, the fibers of which are part of the lingual nerve.

Blood supply. Blood flows to the tongue through the lingual artery (from the external carotid artery), which branches to capillaries that form a dense network in the tongue. Venous blood flows to the vein of the same name, which flows into the internal jugular vein.

Glands of the mouth

The glands of the mouth include the minor and major salivary glands. The minor salivary glands are located deep in the mucous membrane and submucosa of the oral cavity. Their size ranges from 1 to 5 mm. According to the topographic principle, the glands are distinguished: labial, buccal, molar (located near the molars), palatal and lingual glands. The large salivary glands are located outside the walls of the oral cavity, but open into it using excretory ducts.

All salivary glands are of ectodermal origin and have a complex alveolar or alveolar-tubular structure. The salivary glands have a body (main, secretory section) and an excretory duct. The body is represented by parenchyma and stroma.

The salivary glands perform an exocrine function. It consists of regular release of saliva into the oral cavity. The composition of saliva includes water (approximately 99%), mucus (mucin), enzymes (amylase, maltase), inorganic substances, immunoglobulins. Saliva moistens food and moistens the mucous membrane of the mouth. Salivary enzymes break down polysaccharides into disaccharides and monosaccharides (glucose).

Parotid salivary gland steam room, serous type of secretion. The gland has an irregular shape and is covered on the outside with a thin capsule. The weight of the gland is 20-30 g. The gland is located anterior and inferior to the auricle, on the lateral surface of the branch of the lower jaw. It opens in front of the mouth at the level of the second upper molar.

Innervation: sensitive - parotid branches of the auriculotemporal nerve, secretory (parasympathetic) - fibers of the auriculotemporal nerve (from the ear ganglion), sympathetic - from the external carotid plexus.

Blood supply: parotid branches of the surfaces of the temporal artery, venous outflow - into the mandibular vein.

Submandibular salivary gland Narnaya, mixed type of secretion, has a thin capsule. Located in the area of the submandibular triangle of the neck. The submandibular (Wharton's) duct of the gland is directed forward, adjacent to the sublingual salivary gland and opens at the mouth on the sublingual papilla, next to the frenulum of the tongue.

Innervation : secretory (parasympathetic) - fibers of the facial nerve - from the chorda tympani and submandibular ganglion, sympathetic - from the external carotid plexus.

Blood supply : glandular branches of the facial artery. Venous drainage: submandibular vein.

Sublingual salivary gland steam room, predominantly mucous type of secretion. It is located on the mylohyoid muscle, directly under the mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth. Major hypoglossal duct - the main excretory duct opens on the sublingual papilla.

Innervation: secretory (parasympathetic) - fibers of the facial nerve, through the chorda tympani and hypoglossal ganglion, sympathetic - from the external carotid plexus.

Blood supply: hypoglossal and mental arteries. Venous drainage: sublingual veins.

Sky

Sky divided into hard and soft. The bone basis of the hard palate consists of the palatine processes of the maxillary bones connected to each other, to which the horizontal plates of the palatine bones are attached at the back.

Soft sky attaches to the posterior edge of the hard palate. The basis of the soft palate is made up of a connective tissue plate (palatal aponeurosis) and the muscles of the soft palate, covered on the side of the nasal and oral cavities with mucous membrane. The anterior section of the soft palate is located in a horizontal plane, the posterior, freely hanging edge of the palate is called palatal curtain. On the free edge of the velum palatine there is a rounded process - the uvula. Two folds, the arches, begin from the lateral edges of the velum palatine. The palatoglossus arch goes down to the lateral edge of the root of the tongue. The posterior palatopharyngeal arch descends down to the lateral wall of the pharynx. Between the arches is the almond fossa. It contains the organ of the immune system - the palatine tonsil.

Age-related characteristics of the oral cavity, tongue, salivary glands and palate.

Oral cavity in a newborn it is small in size. The vestibule is delimited from the oral cavity by the so-called gingival margin, and not by the alveolar processes. The lips are thick, the mucous membrane is covered with papillae. There are transverse ridges on the inner surface of the lips. The intermediate part (transition zone) is narrow, the orbicularis oris muscle is well developed.

Solid sky flat, located at the level of the vault of the pharynx, the soft palate is short, located horizontally. The velum palatine does not touch the back wall of the pharynx, which ensures free breathing during sucking. The mucous membrane of the hard palate forms weakly expressed transverse folds and is poor in glands.

Language in a newborn it is thick, wide, short, inactive. It occupies the entire oral cavity. When the mouth is closed, it extends beyond the edges of the gums and reaches the cheeks. The papillae of the tongue are pronounced, the lingual tonsil is poorly developed. With the appearance of milk teeth, and then during the period of first childhood, there is a significant increase in the size of the alveolar processes of the upper jaw, the alveolar part of the lower jaw and the oral cavity. The hard palate seems to rise.

Palatine tonsil in a newborn it is small in size (up to 7 mm), however, with the oral cavity open, it is clearly visible, since it is weakly covered by the anterior arch. In children, the tonsil is relatively large. It reaches its maximum size (28 cm) by the age of 16.

Salivary glands in a newborn are poorly developed. They grow especially quickly after 4 months, during the first 2 years. Subsequently, the glands increase in length, their ducts become more branched. The duct of the parotid salivary gland is located lower than in adults, opening at the level of the first molar.

Cheeks in children they are convex as a result of the presence of a rounded fatty body between the skin and the well-developed buccal muscle. With age, the fat body becomes flatter and moves posteriorly, behind the masseter muscle.

The oral cavity, which is located in the lower part of the head, is considered the initial organ of the digestive system. The oral cavity consists of two parts. The vestibule of the mouth is the space between the teeth and cheeks on the outside. On the inside, it includes teeth and gums. The oral cavity is the space that extends from the teeth to the beginning of the pharynx. The oral cavity ends at the top with the hard palate, as well as the anterior part of the soft palate.

The oral cavity has a bottom formed by the diaphragm, within which the tongue is also located. The structure of the tongue is determined by: body, apex, root, upper and lower surfaces, as well as the edge. The back is the upper convex surface. Papillae are located on the mucous membrane of the tongue. When a person’s mouth is closed, the upper surface of the tongue comes into contact with the palate and at the same time a narrow space is formed between them, resembling a gap in appearance. When the mucous membrane passes to the lower surface of the tip of the tongue, a frenulum of the tongue is formed. The oral cavity, or rather its front part, has a smooth and uniform surface. Under the elevation, located on both sides of the frenulum, is the excretory duct of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. This duct opens on the sublingual papilla, which looks like a papule, and saliva is secreted from it. In addition, under these glands there are mylohyoid muscles.

The teeth and tongue take an active part in wetting the food that enters the oral cavity. And the taste buds determine the taste of food, which is analyzed in the cerebral cortex. In the process of wetting food components with saliva, a food bolus is formed, the ingestion of which becomes possible with the help of viscous mucin, which is the main component of mucus.

The teeth are located in the dental alveoli. It is a known fact that teeth can be primary and permanent. There are 20 primary teeth, while there are 32 permanent teeth. Each tooth has a crown, neck and root. As for the crown, this part of the tooth protrudes above the gum, the neck of the tooth is covered by the gum, and the root itself is located in the dental alveolus. The gums are like a continuation of the mucous membrane of the lips and cheeks. Through the hole at the top of the tooth root, nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth. The cavity inside the tooth is filled with pulp.

The outer area of the vestibule of the mouth is limited to the lips and cheeks. The inner part of the labial surface is covered with a mucous membrane with stratified squamous epithelium, which is non-keratinizing. In the place where the mucous membrane transitions to the gums, the frenulum of the upper and lower lips is located. Underneath it there is fibrovascular tissue, characterized by the absence of hair roots, as well as sebaceous and sweat glands. A little deeper are the muscles that allow the lips to move. This group of muscles includes the orbicularis oris muscle, as well as the muscle that raises the upper lip, and, accordingly, the muscle responsible for lowering the lower lip. The lips are covered on the outside with skin, and their color is directly dependent on the amount of pigment present in the epithelial cells. The lips close along a line called the wet line.

The oral cavity includes the buccal muscles, which serve to form the cheeks. Their outer side is covered with skin, and the inner side is covered with mucous membrane. The color of the mucous membrane is usually pink or brownish pink. In addition, you can see small capillaries on it that are responsible for its nutrition. The parotid duct papilla is the mouth of the parotid gland excretory duct, which has the appearance of a triangular pink papule, located on the buccal mucosa at the level of the second upper molar. The fat layer of tissue, the so-called cheek fat pad, occupies the area between the skin and the cheek muscles. This layer of adipose tissue is especially well developed in young children.

Diseases that develop in the oral cavity often bring discomfort to the sick person and interfere with his full life. They appear at any age, but more often in weakened people. Diseases that occur in the mouth can be viral and infectious, not dangerous to health and precancerous, but they all require high-quality diagnosis and treatment.

Types of oral diseases with photos

When an infection enters the oral cavity, the mucous membrane is the first to suffer. It becomes inflamed, becomes thinner and becomes a breeding ground for infections. The disease can affect the tongue, gums, inner cheeks and tonsils. All diseases of the oral cavity are conventionally called stomatitis, but stomatitis is not the only ailment that affects the oral mucosa.

Let's look at the most common diseases in the mouth and mucous membranes, their symptoms and causes. The general classification and statistics of oral diseases in adults can be seen in the photo with the names of the diseases:

Stomatitis and thrush

Stomatitis is an inflammatory reaction in the oral mucosa. People with reduced immunity and thinned mucous membranes (infants and the elderly) are susceptible to it.

Stomatitis causes discomfort in the patient, can signal the presence of a pathological process in the body and be a harbinger of oncology. There are many varieties of this disease. More details about the types of stomatitis, possible causes of the disease and symptoms can be found in the table.

Types of stomatitis	Symptoms	Causes of the disease
Infectious	Various rashes developing into ulcers	Occurs against the background of the underlying infectious disease
Traumatic	Starts with a wound and its redness, progresses to rashes and ulcers	Occurs after damage to the mucous membrane (scratches, burns from hot food or drinks)
Bacterial	Yellowish crust on the lips, plaque and blisters with pus in the mouth	Getting germs and dirt onto the mucous membrane
Fungal (candidiasis, thrush)	Thick, cheesy white coating covering the oral cavity	Low immunity, long-term use of antibiotics, infection from mother to child during childbirth
Allergic	Swelling and dryness of the mucous membrane, burning and itching, bright spots of white or red color	Individual reaction to food, medicine and hygiene products
Herpetic	Blistering rashes inside and on the lips turning into ulcers. Increased body temperature, possible vomiting and diarrhea	Airborne herpes virus infection
Aphthous	Small round or oval rashes covered with a gray-yellow coating with a red border (we recommend reading: why is there a yellow coating on the tongue and what could it be?). Can be single or multiple	Occurs more often in adults with reduced immunity and vitamin deficiency
Nicotinic	It begins with irritation of the soft or hard palate, progresses to hardening of the palate, and multiple ulcers appear.	Occurs in smokers due to the irritating effect of tobacco smoke on the mucous membrane. May develop into cancer

Glossitis or inflammation of the tongue

The tongue is called the mirror of human health, because by its condition one can determine the presence of diseases in the body. Inflammatory lesions of the tongue in medicine are called glossitis; it can be acute or chronic.

Based on the causes of the disease, glossitis is divided into primary (an independent disease) and secondary (joined against the background of other diseases). Depending on the form of the lesion, glossitis can be deep or superficial. Glossitis often appears with stomatitis.

General symptoms of glossitis:

In the chronic form, papillomas and warts may appear. Types of glossitis, its symptoms and causes are described in the table. You can see what kind of rashes and ulcers there are in the photo.

Kinds	Signs	Causes
Desquamative	Uneven desquamation of the epithelium (light spots) in the form of a geographical pattern	Viral and infectious diseases, gastrointestinal diseases
Gunterovsky	Lacquer finish and bright red tongue	Lack of vitamins and folic acid
Catarrhal	Superficial inflammation and increased sensitivity of the tongue in the initial stage	Stomatitis, teething in children
Candida	Curd-like coating with brown specks, swelling and burning, unpleasant odor	Yeast fungus, thrush
Aphthous	Ulcerative lesions in the form of aphthae (purulent pimples with a red border)	Aphthous stomatitis
Allergic	Swelling, itching and burning	Individual reaction to food or hygiene products
Atrophic	Dying of the papillae and muscles of the tongue, decreased sensitivity	Lack of vitamins A and E, infections
Diamond-shaped	Pathology of the basal part of the tongue in the form of a diamond, does not cause pain or discomfort	Abnormal development, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, have a chronic course
folded	The appearance of multidirectional stripes and folds	Abnormal language development
Interstitial	Increased density and limited mobility of the tongue	Syphilis

Herpes virus

The well-known “cold rashes” on the lips can also appear in the oral cavity. The cause of such rashes is infection with the herpes virus, which can occur in acute and chronic forms.

The most common type of herpetic rash in the oral cavity is acute herpetic stomatitis. Characterized by rapid spread and sudden development of symptoms. It is most often transmitted by airborne droplets, but there are cases of infection through blood and from mother to child during childbirth.

In the initial stage, herpes infection manifests itself as pain, burning and swelling of the mucous membrane. A mild form of the disease does not manifest itself with significant symptoms. A severe form of acute herpetic stomatitis manifests itself with severe symptoms:

The main symptoms of the disease are rashes in the form of blisters with a yellowish-white coating, which when ruptured form ulcers. The rash can affect the tongue, gums, cheeks and even tonsils.

Herpetic stomatitis is not a dangerous disease, but it brings great discomfort to the patient. With proper and timely treatment, the prognosis for recovery is favorable.

Gingivitis or gingivostomatitis

When we are talking about an inflammatory process localized primarily on the gums, without affecting the periodontal junction, gingivitis can be diagnosed. If the gums are damaged and ulcers appear on the inner surface of the cheeks, gingivostomatitis is diagnosed (more often it affects children).

Gingitis is often a consequence of poor dental care, occurs predominantly in men and depends on lifestyle and the general condition of the body. In the absence of proper treatment, the disease progresses and turns into periodontitis, which threatens tooth loss.

With neglectful care of teeth and oral cavity, microorganisms accumulate, as a result of which dental plaques form and the inflammatory process begins. Gingivitis can be acute, chronic and recurrent. There are several types of gingivitis:

Ulcerative - the initial acute form. It is characterized by swelling of the gums, their redness and the appearance of a foreign odor from the mouth.
Catarrhal. Severe swelling, pain in the gums and slight bleeding appear. Gum pockets are not affected in this form.
Hypertrophic - advanced stage of the disease. At this stage, the gums and gingival papillae thicken and enlarge, and the gum pocket turns red. There are two forms of hypertrophic gingivitis - edematous, characterized by swollen, smooth-red, bleeding gums, and fibrous - with this form the gums are very dense, there is no pain or bleeding (cannot be treated with medication, surgical treatment is used).

Other types of diseases

There are also less common diseases of the oral lining, such as cheilitis, leukoplakia, xerostomia, lichen planus, glossalgia (more details in the article: red gums and other diseases of the oral cavity). Some of them are diagnosed only by experienced doctors.

Diagnosis and symptoms

If you experience any unpleasant symptoms of oral disease, you should contact your dentist. It will not be difficult for an experienced doctor to diagnose the disease by examining the oral mucosa. This may be enough to establish the correct diagnosis.

In some cases, examinations may be prescribed:

scraping from the site of the lesion for examination under a microscope;
bacterial culture to determine the sensitivity of the fungus to the drug;
allergy tests;
general examination of the body to identify a systemic disease.

When should you see a dentist? If any general symptoms of diseases of the mucous membrane and mouth are detected in the oral cavity:

pain, swelling and burning;
change in color of the mucous membrane or the appearance of spots on it;
increased or decreased functioning of the salivary glands;
the appearance of any rashes, ulcers and wounds.

Treatment of oral diseases in adults

Due to the wide variety of diseases, there is no single treatment regimen. First of all, the cause of the disease and associated diseases are identified and treated. The treatment regimen is drawn up individually for each patient.

Treatment is complex and includes medications for internal and local use. Recovery can be long.

Medicines

Folk remedies

Traditional treatment is effectively supplemented with folk remedies. For these purposes, herbal decoctions, soda rinses and applications with natural oils are used.
Rosehip, sea buckthorn or St. John's wort oil is used as an application to the affected areas. Effectively heal wounds and injuries. Use a gauze swab soaked in oil to remove plaque from thrush.
Calendula and chamomile flowers, oak bark, and eucalyptus leaves are used in the form of decoctions for rinsing. They have antibacterial and wound-healing effects.
A weak soda solution is used to treat oral candidiasis. Can be used for rinsing and as a means to remove plaque in the mouth.

Prevention of oral diseases

Contact your dentist not only when symptoms of the disease appear, but also twice a year for a preventive examination. To prevent diseases in the mouth, you need to know the main factors influencing their occurrence and try to eliminate them:

The mouth of a living organism is a separate structure that provides nutrition for the normal functioning of all systems and organs. All developed beings are endowed with the gift of pronouncing various sounds characteristic of their species. Its functional anatomy in humans is considered the most complex due to the influence of various evolutionary conditions. The oral cavity is a section of the digestive system protected externally by the lips, teeth and cheeks, and internally by the gums.

Departments and structure (diagram) of the oral cavity with photo

In terms of its structure, the human oral cavity is radically different from that of animals: we can eat plant foods, meat, and fish. There are several sections of the organ, the main of which is the vestibule of the oral cavity. Photos will help you understand the structure of the oral cavity.

The vestibule is a space bounded in front by the lips and cheeks, and behind by the teeth and gums. Its shape and size are extremely important; the small vestibule opens the gate for the penetration of bacteria.

The upper part is called the palate, and the lower part is called the floor of the mouth. The floor of the mouth, as well as the lower wall, is formed by tissues that extend from the site of attachment of the tongue to the small bone under it. They are located between the tongue and the hyoid bone. The floor of the mouth ends in the lower part with the diaphragm, which is formed by the paired muscle.

On both sides of the floor of the mouth there are three more formative muscles. Below, next to the mylohyoid muscle, the base of the digastric muscle is visible. Next, we can observe the muscular cushion of the floor of the mouth.

Musculocutaneous organ - lips

This muscular organ acts as a gate. The lips have an outer layer of skin with a layer of epidermis. Its cells constantly die and are replaced with new ones. The top of the lip is protected by hairs growing on it. The pink intermediate part is located on the border with the mucosa. This part of the labial folds is not capable of keratinization; its cells always remain moist. It is located inside the oral cavity.

Dentition

The teeth in the oral cavity, together with the gums, greatly influence the vital functions of the body. The development of the oral cavity and dentition begins in the womb. Human teeth consist of a root, crown, and neck. The root is hidden in the gum, which is attached from below to the bottom of the mouth, and from above to the palate, and has an entrance for the nerve and blood vessels. There are 4 types of teeth, differing in crown shape:

The dental neck is covered by gums, which can be classified as mucous surfaces. Why is gum needed? Its importance is very great and comes down to holding teeth in place. The gum walls must always be healthy, otherwise inflammation will penetrate. The development of infectious processes often progresses to the chronic stage. Its components:

interdental papilla;
gingival margin;
alveolar area;
mobile gum.

Bridle

The frenulum of the tongue is a small fold. It is located below the bottom of the tongue and extends to the floor of the mouth. On both sides of it there are sublingual folds, similar to small rollers. Thanks to the presence of ducts of the salivary glands, they are formed. The bridle is movable and can easily form small folds. This occurs due to the fact that it has a weak connection with surrounding tissues.

Oral mucosa

The organs of the oral cavity are penetrated by a network of capillaries, and therefore there is a constant blood supply. In addition, it is rich in the salivary glands of the oral cavity, which protect it from drying out.

Depending on the location, the mucosa may have a layer capable of keratinization (about a quarter of the entire mucosa). Areas without such a layer occupy 60% and another type is classified as a mixed variant, which accounts for 15% of the surface.

The gums and palate are covered with mucous membranes that are capable of keratinization, since they are directly involved in grinding food. Without the ability to harden, you can find mucous membranes in all areas of the oral cavity that require elasticity. Both types of mucosa consist of 4 layers, 2 of which are the same. See below for a diagram of the layers of the mucous membrane.

When carrying out dental procedures, to prevent saliva from flowing into a tooth or its wall that has been cleaned of caries, various methods of moisture insulation are used. The most popular are the use of cotton swabs and special suction. The importance of this method cannot be underestimated: the ingress of saliva will lead to poor-quality installation of the filling and its rapid loss.

Oral muscles

Muscle tissue is divided into 2 types. One is represented by the orbicularis muscle of the floor of the mouth, which, when contracted, narrows the space of the cavity. The rest are located radially and are responsible for expanding the lumen of the pharynx. The orbicularis muscle consists of fascicular tissue and is located in the folds of the lips, tightly connects to the skin and participates in the movement of the lip folds.

The zygomaticus major muscle extends from the area near the ear. Descending, this muscle of the floor of the mouth connects with the orbicularis and the skin at the corner. The zygomatic minor muscle originates on the front of the cheekbone.

The medial muscle tissues are intertwined with the zygomaticus major muscle. The tissues of the cheeks are directed forward and connect to the orbicularis muscle of the floor of the mouth, the mucous membrane and the corners of the lips. On the outside there is a fatty layer of the cheek, and on the inside there is mucous membrane.

There are parotid glands near the front of the masseter muscle. Adequate development of facial muscles provides a person with developed facial expressions. The cheek muscles help move the corner of the mouth to the side. The laughter muscles start from the masseter muscle and from the middle of the upper lip, connecting to the tissues in the corner of the mouth.

The muscle responsible for its downward movement is located on the lower jaw, below the chin. It has a complex structure: it is directed upward, narrows closer to the corner, connecting with the skin and upper lip. The muscle that helps lower the lower lip is located under the previous one and originates in front of the lower jaw. Directed upward and connected to the skin of the chin and lower lip.

Palate and tongue

The palate is the upper wall of the oral cavity, the so-called vault, constantly moistened by the mucous membrane. The sky has 2 parts. The hard palate separates the oral cavity from the nasopharynx and is round in shape. The soft palate, covered with a special mucous membrane, separates the pharynx, on which there is a tongue involved in the process of sound formation. The small tongue has the shape of a scapula. It is given movement by striated muscles and is also covered by a protective moist layer. The tongue is involved in the process of grinding food and the ability to speak. More details about this in the video clip.

Glands responsible for the production of saliva

The oral cavity contains several differently developed and functioning salivary glands. The glands of the oral cavity are paired and unpaired. The sublingual gland is the smallest. It looks similar to an ellipse. The parotid salivary gland is one of the largest. It has an asymmetrical shape and is located on the lower jaw, near the ears.

Blood supply and innervation of the maxillofacial area

The blood supply to the brain and cervical spine is provided by the common carotid arteries. The common carotid artery, as a rule, does not form branches. The blood supply goes through paired terminal branches: the internal and external carotid arteries. The bottom is penetrated by blood vessels filled from the external carotid artery. The blood supply to the teeth occurs thanks to the maxillary artery.

All oral organs have nerve endings: 12 paired and 5 nerves connected to the cerebral cortex. The hypoglossal, lingual and mylohyoid nerves approach the floor of the mouth. The innervation of the teeth, masticatory muscles, skin and forebrain is created by the ternary nerve. The innervation of part of the facial muscles is carried out by the facial nerve. The innervation of part of the tongue, pharynx and parotid gland is created by the glossopharyngeal nerve. The vagus nerve is connected to the palate.

Oral environment

Saliva is a colorless liquid secreted by glands into the oral cavity and has a complex composition. The totality of saliva secreted by all glands is called oral fluid, and its structure is supplemented by food particles, various microbes, and elements of tartar. Due to the influence of saliva, a person’s taste buds are activated and food is moistened. It also helps keep the mouth clean due to its antibacterial properties.

What environment is present in our mouth: acidic or alkaline? Does adult saliva have a pH of 5.6-7.6? None of the options are correct. Alkaline pH ranges from 7.1 to 14, and acidic pH ranges from 6.9 to zero. Our saliva has a slightly acidic environment.

The composition of saliva in the oral cavity changes depending on the appearance of any irritating factors. By determining the pH of oral saliva, you can monitor the condition of the body.

The relatively constant temperature of the mouth is 34 - 36°C. When measured with a thermometer, the temperature will always be 0.5 - 0.6 degrees higher than under the armpit. Children's temperature readings are different from those of adults and depend on the measurement method.

Functions of the oral cavity with table

The functions are presented schematically in the table:

Anomalies of oral cavity development

Medicine knows many deviations from the norm and such manifestations occur quite often. They appear both in the vestibule and on the floor of the oral cavity. It would be advisable to talk only about the most common anomalies in the development of the oral cavity.

A developmental disorder of the oral cavity that results in a bifurcated upper lip is called a cleft lip. This is a characteristic separation of the lip, which can be unilateral or bilateral, partially or fully expressed. As a result of a defect in the structure of the oral cavity, subcutaneous bifurcation occurs.

Anomalies in the development of the oral cavity and face in rare cases are expressed in non-fusion of the upper lip and palate at the same time, complete end-to-end bifurcation of the lip and palate. There are one-sided and two-sided forms. With this pathology, there is a gap between the cavity and the nose. Often accompanied by Grauhan's disease. Splitting of the upper labial fold, with a pronounced median form - this pathology is less common than others.

The anomaly of cleft palate is otherwise called cleft palate. It is expressed by a complete bifurcation of the hard and soft palate or partial, that is, only one part. End-to-end or submucosal bifurcation is also observed.

Anomalies associated with the development of the shape of the tongue are often of two types. A forked tongue, when the cleft is located in the middle, which is why the structural features resemble a snake's. Patients also experience the appearance of a characteristic process that resembles an additional tongue. It is located closer to the bottom of the mouth.