This article is about the anatomical structure. For other uses see Mouth (disambiguation). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008) Mouth Head and neck. A closed human female mouth MeSH Oral+cavity

The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food and saliva.1 The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane 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. While primary aspects of the voice are produced in the throat the tongue lips and jaw are also needed to produce the range of sounds included in human language. Another non-digestive function of the mouth is its role in secondary social and/or sexual activity such as kissing.

The mouth is normally moist and is lined with a mucous membrane. The lips mark the transition from mucous membrane to skin which covers most of the body. Contents 1 In Humans 1.1 Mouth cavity 1.2 Function 1.3 Cultural aspects 1.4 Development 2 In non-human animals 3 See also 4 References 5 External links In Humans Mouth cavity Illustration of the inside of a human mouth. Cheeks have been cut and lips pulled back for an unobstructed view.

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. The oral cavity is also known as the mouth which swallows food and drinks that then go down the esophagus and into the stomach. Function

The mouth plays an important role in sucking (it is part of the sucking apparatus) facial expression eating drinking and breathing. Infants are born with a sucking reflex by which they instinctively know to suck for nourishment using their lips and jaw. Cultural aspects

According to Western etiquette the mouth is kept closed especially when chewing.

Lips can be adorned with lipstick or lip gloss although in most cultures this is typically only practiced by females. Both men and women however apply lip balm in order to soothe chapped or dry lips.

Piercings in or around the mouth have been made popular by younger generations including those on the lip or tongue. The uvula piercing while increasing in popularity remains relatively rare. Development

The philtrum is the vertical groove in the upper lip formed where the nasomedial and maxillary processes meet during embryo development. 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 non-human animals Alligators are known for their large mouths and sharp teeth Some animal phyla 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 is a criterion used to classify animals into protostome and deuterostome. 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.1 See also Head and neck anatomy Mouth breathing Index of oral health and dental articles List of basic dentistry topics Tonsillolith Arthropod mouthparts Insect mouthparts References a b Maton Anthea; Jean Hopkins Charles William McLaughlin Susan Johnson Maryanna Quon Warner David LaHart Jill D. Wright (1993). Human Biology and Health. Englewood Cliffs New Jersey USA: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-981176-1.  External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mouth v d eHuman regional anatomy (TA A01.1) Head Forehead  Ear  Jaw  Face (Cheek Eye Nose Mouth Chin)  Occiput  Scalp  Temple Neck Throat  Adam's apple Trunk Chest (Breast)  Abdomen (Navel)  Back  Pelvis (Sex organs) Limbs Upper limb Shoulder  Axilla  Arm Elbow  Forearm Wrist  Hand  Finger (Thumb  Index  Middle  Ring  Little) Lower limb/ (see also leg) Hip  Buttocks  Thigh Knee  Calf  Crus Ankle  Heel  Foot  Toe (Hallux  Long   Third   Fourth   Fifth)  Sole general anatomy: systems and organs regional anatomy planes and lines superficial axial anatomy superficial anatomy of limbs v d eHead and neck anatomy digestive system: Mouth anatomy (TA A05.12 TH H3.04.01 GA 11.11102 11251141) Mouth Oral cavity (including mucosa) Vestibule Lip (Upper Lower Vermilion border Frenulum of lower lip Labial commissure of mouth Philtrum) Cheek (Buccal fat pad) OC proper Palate/ roof of mouth Hard palate  Soft palate  Palatine raphe  Incisive papilla Gingiva Interdental papilla  Gingival sulcus  Gingival margin Glands Parotid gland/Parotid duct  Submandibular gland/Submandibular duct  Sublingual gland/Major sublingual duct Teeth see tooth anatomy Tongue dorsum (Taste bud Median sulcus Terminal sulcus Foramen cecum Lingual tonsils)  underside (Frenulum Fimbriated fold Sublingual caruncle)  Anterior  Posterior  Glossoepiglottic folds  Lingual septum Oro-pharynx/ fauces Oropharyngeal isthmus/Isthmus of the fauces Soft palate (Uvula Palatoglossal arch Palatopharyngeal arch Plica semilunaris of the fauces) Tonsillar fossa Palatine tonsil Ungrouped periodontology Alveolar bone  Biologic width  Bundle bone  Cementum  Free gingival margin  Gingiva  Gingival fibers  Gingival sulcus  Junctional epithelium  Mucogingival junction  Periodontal ligament  Sulcular epithelium  Stippling M: MOU anat/devp noco/cofa(c)/cogi/tumr sysi proc (peri) drug (A1) This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v d e