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3D medical illustration explaining the oral digestive system. The mouth is the first part of the upper gastrointestinal tract and is equipped with several structures that begin the first processes of digestion. [3] These include salivary glands, teeth and the tongue. The mouth consists of two regions; the vestibule and the oral cavity proper.
The mouth consists of two regions: the vestibule and the oral cavity proper. The vestibule is the area between the teeth, lips and cheeks. [3] The oral cavity is bounded at the sides and in front by the alveolar process (containing the teeth) and at the back by the isthmus of the fauces. Its roof is formed by the hard palate.
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans and other animals, including the esophagus , stomach , and intestines .
The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or cavum oris in Latin), [2] is also the first part of the alimentary canal, which leads to the pharynx and the gullet. In tetrapod vertebrates , the mouth is bounded on the outside by the lips and cheeks — thus the oral cavity is also known as the buccal cavity ...
The digestive system has a complex system of motility and secretion regulation which is vital for proper function. This task is accomplished via a system of long reflexes from the central nervous system (CNS), short reflexes from the enteric nervous system (ENS) and reflexes from GI peptides working in harmony with each other.
Around 800 to 1,000 minor salivary glands are located throughout the oral cavity within the submucosa [12] of the oral mucosa in the tissue of the buccal, labial, and lingual mucosa, the soft palate, the lateral parts of the hard palate, and the floor of the mouth or between muscle fibers of the tongue. [13]
The protective tissues of the oral cavity are continuous with the digestive tract are called mucosa or mucous membranes. The cells of the inner oral cavity are called the buccal mucosa . The oral cavity is lined by a stratified squamous epithelium containing about three layers of cells.
The oral cavity has sometimes been described as a mirror that reflects the health of the individual. [2] Changes indicative of disease are seen as alterations in the oral mucosa lining the mouth, which can reveal systemic conditions, such as diabetes or vitamin deficiency , or the local effects of chronic tobacco or alcohol use. [ 3 ]