词条 | mouth |
释义 | mouth anatomy also called Oral Cavity, or Buccal Cavity, ![]() The chief structures of the mouth are the teeth (tooth), which tear and grind ingested food into small pieces that are suitable for digestion; the tongue, which positions and mixes food and also carries sensory receptors for taste; and the palate, which separates the mouth from the nasal cavity, allowing separate passages for air and for food. All these structures, along with the lips, are involved in the formation of speech sounds by modifying the passage of air through the mouth. The oral cavity and vestibule are entirely lined by mucous membranes (mucous membrane) containing numerous small glands that, along with the three pairs of salivary glands, bathe the mouth in fluid, keeping it moist and clear of food and other debris. Specialized membranes form both the gums (gum) (gingivae), which surround and support the teeth, and the surface of the tongue, on which the membrane is rougher in texture, containing many small papillae that hold the taste buds. The mouth's moist environment and the enzymes within its secretions help to soften food, facilitating swallowing and beginning the process of digestion. See also digestion. |
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