Description
The oral cavity proper refers to the region of the oral cavity that sits inside the dental arcades. Inferiorly, it's bounded by the muscular floor of the mouth. Superiorly, it’s bounded by the palate, which forms the roof of the oral cavity proper. This delineates the nasal cavity above from the oral cavity below. Anterolaterally, the oral cavity proper is bounded by the dental arcades.
Posteriorly, the oral cavity is continuous with the oropharynx, the junction of which is demarcated by the palatoglossal arches.
The oral cavity proper contains the openings of three major salivary glands, including the:
- parotid glands;
- sublingual glands;
- submandibular glands.
Related parts of the anatomy
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Anatomy of the oral cavity (dentistry): Video, Causes, & Meaning
Anatomy of the oral cavity (dentistry): Symptoms, Causes, Videos & Quizzes | Learn Fast for Better Retention!
Oral Cavity
The oral cavity is defined as the space from the lips to the end of the hard palate.
