The masseter, temporalis as well as medial and lateral pterygoid muscles primarily mediate mastication. They are all innervated by the mandibular nerve (CN Vc). The masseter, temporalis and medial pterygoid elevate the mandible while lateral pterygoid is the only muscle that depresses the mandible: Masseter arises from the zygomatic arch and inserts into the lateral aspect of the ramus and angle of the mandible. Temporalis … Continue reading Mastication muscles

The oral cavity (mouth) is the first part of the alimentary canal where food undergoes preliminary breakdown. It consists of the vestibule (between the lips/cheeks externally and the gums/teeth internally) and the oral cavity proper which is bounded by the teeth/gums, palate and tongue. It opens posteriorly into the oropharynx via an area known as the fauces. Lateral walls The lateral walls of the oral … Continue reading Oral cavity (mouth)

Three pairs of salivary glands produce saliva that moistens and begins chemical breakdown of food. They are the sublingual, submandibular and parotid glands. Parasympathetic secretomotor supply to the former two glands comes from the facial nerve via its chorda tympani branch and the submandibular ganglion whilst the parotid gland is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. Sublingual glands Each sublingual gland (beneath the tongue) lie on … Continue reading Salivary glands

The palate forms the roof of the oral cavity (separating it from the nasopharynx) and consists of the hard palate anteriorly and the soft palate posteriorly. Hard palate The hard palate is covered with mucous membrane and formed by the palatine process of the maxilla and the horizontal plate of the palatine bone. Posteriorly, it is continuous with the soft palate. Soft palate Five muscles … Continue reading Palate

The tongue occupies the floor of the oral cavity. It is divided into an anterior two-thirds (the oral part) and a posterior third (the pharyngeal part) by a prominent sulcus terminalis. The oral part has a velvety appearance, being covered by small projections called papillae. Most of these are pointed filiform papillae, with numerous mushroom-shaped and taste bud-containing fungiform papillae interspersed among them. The pharyngeal … Continue reading Tongue