The oral cavity is the first part of the digestive tract, running from the lips in front to the oropharyngeal isthmus at the back. It is divided into a narrow outer vestibule, between the lips and cheeks and the teeth, and the oral cavity proper inside the dental arches. It holds the teeth, gums and tongue and is roofed by the hard and soft palates.
| Location | Lower face, between the lips anteriorly and the oropharyngeal isthmus posteriorly; roofed by the palate and floored by the mylohyoid and tongue |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Maxillary nerve, CN V2 (sensory to palate and upper teeth); Mandibular nerve, CN V3 (sensory to lower teeth, cheek and anterior tongue); Facial nerve, CN VII (lip and cheek muscles; taste via chorda tympani); Glossopharyngeal nerve, CN IX; Hypoglossal nerve, CN XII (tongue muscles) |
| Blood Supply | Facial artery (labial branches); Lingual artery; Maxillary artery (alveolar, palatine and buccal branches) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Takes in food, breaks it down by chewing, mixes it with saliva to start starch digestion and forms a bolus for swallowing. It also shapes speech sounds and serves as a secondary airway.
Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas of the lateral tongue and floor of the mouth, linked to tobacco and alcohol, so any ulcer or red or white patch lasting more than 3 weeks needs specialist review. Spreading infection from the teeth can track into the fascial spaces of the face and neck. Dry mouth (xerostomia) from medication or radiotherapy raises the risk of caries and fungal infection. Because the mouth is also an airway, swelling here can threaten breathing.
Malignant tumour of the oral lining, most often on the lateral tongue or floor of the mouth; spreads early to submandibular and deep cervical lymph nodes.
Fungal infection (thrush) producing white plaques that wipe off, common in infants, denture wearers, inhaled steroid users and the immunosuppressed.
Recurrent painful shallow ulcers of the non-keratinised oral lining; usually harmless but can signal coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or Behcet disease.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
