Oral Cavity
• Oral Cavity Proper: space within upper and
lower dental arches
• Vestibule: space between teeth and mucosal
inner lining of lips / cheek
• Frenulum: tiny mucous membrane, securing
tongue to floor of mouth
• Oropharyngeal Isthmus: connects oral cavity
proper to oropharynx
• Hard palate (anterior) = BONY: palatine
process of maxilla + horizontal plate of palatine
• Soft palate (posterior) = MUSCULAR
Lips
• Musculofibrous folds containing orbicularis oris
• Upper lip supplied by infra-obrital branch of
CN V2 and upper labial arteries (facial artery) Boundaries
• Lower lip supplies by mental branch of CN V3 • Roof = maxilla (anterior 2/3) &
and lower labial arteries (facial artery) palatine (posterior 1/3)
• Anterior = maxilla & mandible
• Floor/Posterior = mucous
membranes & muscles
(mylohyoid, geniohyoid,
stylohoid, digastric)
Salivary Glands
• Parotid = SEROUS: duct enters mouth near
upper 2nd molar
• Submandibular = SEROMUCOUS: duct
enters floor of mouth
• Sublingual = MUCOUS: 16-20 ducts open
to floor of mouth
• Minor: background secretions flush oral
surfaces
Cheeks
• Enclose buccinators that are encapsulated in
fat
• Nerve supply by buccal branches of CN V3
• Arterial supply buccal arteries (maxillary
artery)
See notes on tongue on a separate page
, Oral Cavity Vasculature
Arterial Supply
• From branches of the external carotid: maxillary, facial & lingual arteries
Maxillary Artery
Lingual Artery
Branches: Mandibular Part:
• Suprahyoid Artery → mylohoid, • Inferior Alveolar Artery → mandible,
sternothyroid & thyroid muscles lower molars, premolars
• Dorsal Lingual Artery → posterior 1/3 • Lingual Branch → lingual mucous
of tongue, soft palate, palatoglossal fold, membrane
lingual tonsil, epiglottis • Mylohyoid Branch → mylohoid
• Deep Lingual Artery → ventral tongue • Incisive Branch → incisor & canines
• Sublingual Artery → sublingual gland, • Mental Branch → chin
genioglossus, geniohyoid, mylohyoid,
Pterygoid Part:
mandible
• Buccal Artery → buccinators, buccal
mucosa, skin
• Pterygoid Branches → medial
Facial Artery pterygoid & lateral pterygoid
• Deep Temporal Artery → temporalis
Cervical Branches:
• Masseteric Artery → masseter
• Ascending Palatine Artery → soft
palate • Branches to muscles of mastication
• Tonsillar Artery → palatine tonsil Pterygopalatine Part:
• Submental Artery → chin, mylohyoid • Greater Descending Palatine Artery
• Glandular Branches → submandibular → hard palate
gland • Lesser Descending Palatine Artery →
soft palate
Facial Branches:
• Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery →
• Inferior Labial Artery → lower lip,
premolars, molars, maxillary sinus
labial glands
• Infra-orbital Artery
• Superior Labial Artery → upper lip,
o Middle Superior Alveolar
nasal septum
Artery → upper premolars
• Lateral Nasal Artery → dorsum of nose
o Anterior Superior Alveolar
• Angular Artery → orbicularis oculi, Artery → maxillary air sinus,
lacrimal sac upper canines / incisors
Venous Drainage Pterygoid plexus
Pterygoid Plexus veins
• Veins generally
accompany arteries • Cluster of veins located in infratemporal
of the same name fossa (between temporalis & pterygoid) Maxillary vein
• Drain into internal • Includes:
& external jugular o Greater + less palatine veins Retromandibular vein
veins o Sphenopalatine veins
• Some veins join o Superior + inferior alveolar veins
pterygoid plexus o Muscular veins External + internal
jugular vein