ABSTRACT
The oral cavity commences at the vermillion of the lips and extends posteriorly to the oropharynx. The oral cavity contains the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the maxillary and mandibular alveolus, which may contain teeth, and as such there are differing relationships of mucosal coverage. The upper and lower alveolar mucosa is connected by the buccal mucosa, which lines the cheeks, and completing the oral maxillary structures is the hard palate. The surface of the oral cavity is lined with stratified squamous epithelium. This epithelium can be intimately related to the underlying bone, such as the attached mucosa of the gums or the midline of the hard palate. Other areas of the oral cavity have a more prominent
sub-mucosal element containing fibrous tissue and minor salivary glands, such as the buccal mucosa and the retromolar soft tissues. The oral cavity is unique in the human body in that its integument is breeched by calcified structures, the teeth, and the presence or absence of teeth can have a bearing on the progression and spread of pathologic disorders close to the jaw.
