Oral cavity proper

Oral cavity proper
The mouth cavity. The cheeks have been slit transversely and the tongue pulled forward.
Latin	cavitas oris propria, cavum oris proprium
Gray's	subject #242 1110

The oral cavity proper is bounded laterally and in front by the alveolar arches with their contained teeth; behind, it communicates with the pharynx by a constricted aperture termed the isthmus faucium. It is roofed in by the hard and soft palates, while the greater part of the floor is formed by the tongue, the remainder by the reflection of the mucous membrane from the sides and under surface of the tongue to the gum lining the inner aspect of the mandible. It receives the secretion from the submaxillary and sublingual salivary glands.

References

This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.