mouth

(noun)

The opening of a organism through which food is ingested.

Related Terms

Examples of mouth in the following topics:

  • Mouth

    • The mouth has a variety of roles in human anatomy and sociology.
    • The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal.
    • The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelial tissue that lines the inside of the mouth.
    • An illustration of the inside of a human mouth.
    • Describe the features of the mouth that play a role in digestion

  • Facial Muscles

    • The depressor anguli oris (triangularis) is also associated with the corners of the mouth.
    • Located opposite to the levator anguli oris, it pulls the corners of the mouth downward, producing a frown.
    • The zygomaticus major draws the mouth upward and outward to generate a smile.
    • The risorius muscle is lateral to the orbicularis oris and inserts into the angle of the mouth.
    • Highlighted in orange, the buccinator is associated with the cheeks directly lateral to the mouth

  • Trigeminal (V) Nerve

    • The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve and it is responsible for sensation and motor function in the face and mouth.
    • The sensory function of the trigeminal nerve is to provide the tactile, motion, position, and pain sensations of the face and mouth.
    • The motor function activates the muscles of the jaw, mouth, and inner ear.
    • The sensory function of the trigeminal nerve is to provide tactile, proprioceptive, and nociceptive afferents to the face and mouth.
    • Schematic illustration of the trigeminal nerve (labeled Sensory root above) and the structures it innervates in the face and mouth.

  • Cleft Palate and Lip

    • If the cleft does not affect the palate structure of the mouth, it is referred to as cleft lip .
    • Cleft palate is a condition in which the two plates of the skull that form the hard palate (roof of the mouth) are not completely joined .
    • Palate cleft can occur as complete (soft and hard palate, possibly including a gap in the jaw) or incomplete (a 'hole' in the roof of the mouth, usually as a cleft soft palate).
    • The hole in the roof of the mouth caused by a cleft connects the mouth directly to the nasal cavity and is called velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI).

  • Processes and Functions of the Digestive System

    • The alimentary canal is the long tube that runs from the mouth (where the food enters) to the anus (where indigestible waste leaves).
    • From mouth to anus, the average adult digestive tract is about thirty feet (30') long.
    • The process starts in the mouth and continues into the intestines.
    • Digestion begins in the mouth.
    • Swallowing occurs when the muscles in your tongue and mouth move the bolus into your pharynx.

  • Dislocated Mandible

    • When a person has a dislocated mandible or jaw, it is difficult to open and close the mouth.
    • For the mouth to close it requires the following muscles: the masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid muscle.
    • Anterior dislocation shifts the lower jaw forward if the mouth excessively opens .
    • Superior dislocations occur after being punched when the mouth remains open .
    • Symptoms of a dislocated jaw include a bite that feels "off" or abnormal, a hard time talking or moving jaw, inability to close mouth completely, drooling due to being unable to shut mouth completely, teeth feeling out of alignment, and a pain that becomes unbearable.

  • Digestion in the Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus

    • When food enters the mouth, digestion begins with the action of mastication, a form of mechanical digestion, and with the contact of saliva.
    • The reflex is initiated by touch receptors in the pharynx as the bolus of food is pushed to the back of the mouth.
    • The pharynx is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately behind the mouth and nasal cavity.
    • The esophagus is a narrow muscular tube about 20-30 centimeters long, which starts at the pharynx at the back of the mouth, passes through the thoracic diaphragm, and ends at the cardiac orifice of the stomach.

  • Sjögren's Syndrome

    • The hallmark symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth.
    • Other tests involve the direct examination of the two most affected body areas, the eyes and the mouth.
    • Preventive dental treatment is also necessary, as the lack of saliva associated with dry mouth creates an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria that cause dental cavities.
    • Some people may experience only the mild symptoms of dry eyes and mouth, while others have symptoms of severe disease.
    • Others are forced to cope with blurred vision, constant eye discomfort, recurrent mouth infections, swollen parotid glands, hoarseness, and difficulty in swallowing and eating.

  • Tracheotomy and Intubation

    • The resulting stoma can serve independently as an airway or as a site for a tracheostomy tube to be inserted which will allow a person to breathe without the use of his or her nose or mouth.
    • Intubation into the trachea may be performed through the mouth (orotracheal intubation) or through the nose (nasotracheal intubation).
    • The highest priority in an emergency is to enable a patient to breathe by securing their airway (passage from the nose and mouth into the lungs).

  • Anatomy of the Digestive System

    • The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus.
    • The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus.