oral cavity
Inside the mouth
The oral cavity is the mouth—the interior space bounded by the lips, cheeks, palate, and tongue.
Medical and dental professionals use this term when discussing anatomy, disease, or examination: The dentist found no abnormalities in the oral cavity.
It includes the teeth, gums, and the opening to the throat.
Oral cavity ceiling
- gumsOral tissue surrounding teeth
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- mucosaMoist organ lining
- uvulaSoft palate pendant
tonsils · salivary glands · frenulum · soft palate · hard palate · cheeks · lips · floor of mouth
Teeth-based food breakdown
- chewingCrushing food orally
- swallowingIngesting via throat muscles
- bolusChewed food mass
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
Enamel-covered chewing structures
- enamelHard glossy coating
- molarsRear crushing teeth
- incisorsFront cutting teeth
- caninesDog family members
dental · caries · plaque · tartar · crown · root canal · filling · braces
Erosive internal sores
- thrushSpotted woodland vocalist
- gingivitisGum tissue inflammation
- periodontitisGum infection destroying jawbone
- canker soresShallow oral mucosal lesions
cold sores · abscess · inflammation · infection · lesions · halitosis · dry mouth · stomatitis
Sense of flavor
- taste budsFlavor-detecting tongue cells
- flavorCharacteristic taste quality
- sweetTasting of sugar
- sourSharp, biting taste
bitter · salty · umami · savory · papillae · taste receptors · aftertaste · salivation
Pleased facial expression
- grinBroad, toothy smile
- grimaceTwisted expression of displeasure
- poutSulky facial expression
- gapeStare with mouth ajar
frown · sneer · smirk · baring teeth · lip curl · pursed lips
Clear vocal expression
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- phonationVocal fold vibration
- vowelsLetters with unblocked airflow
- consonantsLetters that aren't vowels
enunciation · diction · lisping · stuttering · phonetics · vocalization · labial · alveolar
palate
Oral cavity ceiling
uvula · tonsils · salivary glands · frenulum · soft palate · hard palate · cheeks · lips · floor of mouth · vestibule
mastication
Teeth-based food breakdown
- chewingCrushing food orally
- swallowingIngesting via throat muscles
- bolusChewed food mass
saliva · amylase · deglutition · ingestion
teeth
Enamel-covered chewing structures
canines · dental · caries · plaque · tartar · crown · root canal · filling · braces · orthodontics
ulcers
Erosive internal sores
- thrushSpotted woodland vocalist
- gingivitisGum tissue inflammation
- periodontitisGum infection destroying jawbone
canker sores · cold sores · abscess · inflammation · infection · lesions · halitosis · dry mouth · stomatitis
gustation
Sense of flavor
- taste budsFlavor-detecting tongue cells
- flavorCharacteristic taste quality
- sweetTasting of sugar
sour · bitter · salty · umami · savory · papillae · taste receptors · aftertaste · salivation · gustatory
smile
Pleased facial expression
gape · frown · sneer · smirk · baring teeth · lip curl · pursed lips
articulation
Clear vocal expression
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- phonationVocal fold vibration
- vowelsLetters with unblocked airflow
consonants · enunciation · diction · lisping · stuttering · phonetics · vocalization · labial · alveolar · velar
- dentistrydentist, teeth, tooth, dentists, dental care
- mouthtongue, teeth, lips, gums, palate
- mouth anatomytongue, teeth, palate, lips, gums
- body cavitiesspinal canal, posterior chamber, ventricle, ventricles, amniotic sac
- body passagesmouth, nose, ear, nostril, anus
- ENTear, otology, otolaryngologist, ears, laryngology
oral cavityrectum
Terminal intestinal chamber
anus · anal canal · large intestine · colon · throat