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The mouth, buccal cavity, or oral cavity is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food and begins digestion by mechanically breaking up the solid food particles into smaller pieces and mixing them with saliva
Saliva

Saliva is the watery and usually frothy substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is produced in and secreted from the salivary glands....
. The oral mucosa
Oral mucosa

The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium of the mouth. It can be divided into three categories.*Masticatory mucosa - keratin stratified squamous epithelium, found on the dorsum of the tongue, hard palate and attached gingiva....
 is the mucous membrane
Mucous membrane

The mucous membranes are linings of mostly germ layer origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organ ....
 epithelium lining the inside of the mouth.

In addition to its primary role as the beginning of the digestive system, in humans the mouth also plays a significant role in communication
Communication

Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs...",, 1: an act or instance of transmitting and 3 a: "a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or beha...
.






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Encyclopedia


The mouth, buccal cavity, or oral cavity is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food and begins digestion by mechanically breaking up the solid food particles into smaller pieces and mixing them with saliva
Saliva

Saliva is the watery and usually frothy substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is produced in and secreted from the salivary glands....
. The oral mucosa
Oral mucosa

The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium of the mouth. It can be divided into three categories.*Masticatory mucosa - keratin stratified squamous epithelium, found on the dorsum of the tongue, hard palate and attached gingiva....
 is the mucous membrane
Mucous membrane

The mucous membranes are linings of mostly germ layer origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organ ....
 epithelium lining the inside of the mouth.

In addition to its primary role as the beginning of the digestive system, in humans the mouth also plays a significant role in communication
Communication

Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs...",, 1: an act or instance of transmitting and 3 a: "a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or beha...
. While primary aspects of the voice
Voice

Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film...
 are produced in the throat
Throat

In anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebrae. It consists of the pharynx and larynx. An important feature of the throat is the epiglottis, a flap which separates the esophagus from the vertebrate trachea and prevents inhalation of food or drink....
, the tongue
Tongue

The tongue is skeletal muscle on the floor of the mouth that manipulates food for chewing . It is the primary organ of taste. Much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds....
, lips
LIPS

Sorry, no overview for this topic
, and jaw
Mandible

The mandible or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth in place. It also refers to both the upper and lower sections of the beaks of birds....
 are also needed to produce the range of sounds included in human language. Another non-digestive function of the mouth is it role in secondary sexual activity, such as kissing. The physical appearance of the mouth and lips play a part in defining sexual attractiveness.

The mouth is normally moist, and is lined with a mucous membrane
Mucous membrane

The mucous membranes are linings of mostly germ layer origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organ ....
. The lips mark the transition from mucous membrane to skin
Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s....
, which covers most of the body.

In humans


Mouth Cavity


The first space of the mouth is the mouth cavity, bounded laterally and in front by the alveolar arches (containing the teeth), and posteriorily by the isthmus of the fauces
Isthmus of the fauces

The isthmus of the fauces is the limit between the mouth cavity proper and the pharynx, marked by a constricted aperture....
. The oral cavity is also known as the mouth which it swallows food and drinks and goes down to the person's stomach.

Function

The mouth plays an important role in speech (it is part of the vocal apparatus
Vocal apparatus

Vocal apparatus or vocal organs is a term used in phonetics to designate all parts of human anatomy that can be used to produce Manner of articulation....
), facial expression
Facial expression

A facial expression results from one or more motions or positions of the muscles of the face. These movements convey the emotional state of the individual to observers....
, kiss
Kiss

A kiss is the touching of one person's lip s to another place, which is used as an expression of affection, respect, greeting, wiktionary:farewell, good luck, romantic affection or sexual desire....
ing, eating
Eating

In general terms, eating is the process of consuming food to provide for the nutritional needs of an animal, particularly their food energy requirements and to growth....
, drink
Drink

A drink, or beverage, is a liquid specifically prepared for human consumption. In addition to basic needs, beverages form part of the culture of human society....
ing (especially with a straw) & breathing.

Infant
Infant

An infant or baby is the term used to refer to the young offspring of humans....
s are born with a sucking reflex, by which they instinct
Instinct

Instinct is the inherent disposition of a life organism toward a particular behavior. The fixed action patterns are unlearned and inherited. The stimuli can can be variable due to imprinting in a sensitive period or also genetically fixed....
ively know to suck for nourishment using their lips and jaw
Jaw

The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to the mouth.The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of most animals....
.

Cultural aspects


According to western etiquette
Etiquette

Etiquette is a code that influences expectations for social behavior according to contemporary Convention Norm s within a society, social class, or Group ....
, the mouth is kept closed, especially when chewing.

Lips can be adorned with lipstick
Lipstick

Lipstick is a cosmetics containing pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients that applies color and texture to the lip . There are many varieties of lipstick....
 or lip gloss
Lip gloss

Lip gloss is a Cosmetics product used primarily to give lips a mildly glossy lustre and sometimes subtle color. It is distributed as a liquid or a soft solid ....
, although in most cultures this is typically only practiced by females. Both men and women, however, apply lip balm
Lip balm

Lip balm or lip salve is a substance topically applied to the lips of the mouth to relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis or stomatitis, and Herpes simplex virus....
 in order to soothe chapped or dry lips.

Piercings in or around the mouth have been made popular by the younger generations. Piercings on the lip or tongue are not uncommon. The uvula piercing
Uvula piercing

A uvula piercing is a body piercing through the palatine uvula. This is a rare piercing, and although the procedure is relatively simple many piercers may refuse to perform it....
 is also making a greater appearance, though it still remains a relatively rare piercing and there are still many piercers who refuse to do it.

Development

The philtrum
Philtrum

The philtrum , also known as the infranasal depression is the vertical groove in the upper lip, formed where the nasomedial and Maxillary_prominence processes meet during embryonic development....
 is the vertical groove in the upper lip, formed where the nasomedial and maxillary
Maxillary

Maxillary is something related to the maxilla bone. It may be:*Maxillary artery*Maxillary nerve*Maxillary prominence*Maxillary sinus...
 processes meet during embryo
Embryo

An embryo is a multicellular organism ploidy eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, Egg , or germination....
 development
Embryogenesis

Embryogenesis is the process by which the embryo is formed and develops. It starts with the fertilization of the ovum, egg, which, after fertilization, is then called a zygote....
. When these processes fail to fuse fully, a hare lip and/or cleft palate can result.

The nasolabial folds are the deep creases of tissue that extend from the nose to the sides of the mouth. One of the first signs of age on the human face is the increase in prominence of the nasolabial folds.

In animals

Some animal phyla
Phylum

A phylum "Phylum" is adopted from the Greek phylai, the clan-based voting groups in Greek city-states. is a taxonomic rank below Kingdom and above Class ....
, including vertebrates, have a complete digestive system, with a mouth at one end and an anus at the other. Which end forms first in ontogeny
Ontogeny

Ontogeny describes the origin and the development of an organism from the fertilize Ovum to its mature form. Ontogeny is studied in developmental biology, developmental psychology, developmental cognitive neuroscience, and developmental psychobiology....
 is a criterion used to classify animals into protostome
Protostome

Protostomia are a clade of animals. Together with the deuterostomes and a few smaller phylum, they make up the Bilateria, mostly comprising animals with symmetry #Bilateral symmetry and triploblastic germ layers....
 and deuterostome
Deuterostome

Deuterostomes are a superphylum of animals. They are a taxon of the Bilateria branch of the subregnum Eumetazoa, and are opposed to the protostomes....
. The first space of the mouth is the mouth cavity, bounded laterally and in front by the alveolar arches (containing the teeth), and posteriorly by the isthmus of the fauces.

See also

  • Head and neck anatomy
    Head and neck anatomy

    Head and neck anatomy focuses on the structures of the head and neck of the human body, including the brain, bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, glands, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, and throat....
  • Mouth breathing
    Mouth breathing

    Mouth breathing refers to the state of inhaling and Exhalation through the mouth.A healthy individual normally breathes through the nasal breathing while resting or doing light exercise, and breathes simultaneously through both the nose and mouth during vigorous aerobic exercise, in order to supply sufficient oxygen....
  • List of oral health and dental topics
    List of oral health and dental topics

    Good oral health is the absence of disease, disorder, and injury from the mouth, especially from the tooth and Gingiva. Dental pertains to the teeth, including dentistry....
  • List of basic dentistry topics
    List of basic dentistry topics

    Dentistry is the art and science of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions, diseases, and disorders of the oral cavity, the maxillofacial region, and its associated structures as it relates to human beings....


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