Oral cavity – reading

 

Read the text and answer the questions below

 

The oral cavity, or mouth, is the first part of the digestive tract. It is bounded by the lips and cheeks and contains the teeth and tongue. The oral cavity consists of two portions, the vestibule and the oral cavity proper.

The vestibule is the space between the lips and cheeks externally and the gums and teeth internally. The oral cavity proper is bounded by the alveolar arches, teeth and gums, and palate and tongue.

Tongue

Tongue is a large, muscular organ that occupies most of the oral cavity. The tongue is important in taste, mastication, swallowing, and speech. The inferior surface of the tongue is connected to the floor of the mouth by a small fold of mucous membrane, the frenulum. There are two basic types of frenums: a lingual and a labial frenum.

Palate

The palate or roof of the oral cavity, consists of two parts: hard palate – the anterior part that contains bone and a soft palate – the posterior portion that consists of skeletal muscle and connective tissue. Tonsils – are located in the lateral posterior walls of the oral cavity in the nasopharynx, and in the posterior surface of the tongue.

Oral mucosa

The oral mucosa covers most of the oral cavity apart from the teeth. The oral mucosa has several functions. Its main purpose is to act as a barrier. It protects the deeper tissues such as fat, muscle, nerve and blood supplies from mechanical insults, such as trauma during chewing, and also prevents the entry of bacteria and some toxic substances into the body.

Gingiva

Gingiva is part of oral mucosa that covers the alveolar processes of the jaws and surrounds the necks of the teeth. Healthy gingiva will appear coral pink in color indicating a lack of inflammation.

 

Słowniczek:

Digestive tract – przewód pokarmowy
To be bounded by – być ograniczonym przez
To contain – zawierać
Vestibule – przedsionek
Oral cavity proper – jama ustna właściwa
Externally – zewnętrznie
Internally – wewnętrznie
Mastication – przeżuwanie
Swallowing – połykanie
Fold – fałdka
Mucous membrane – błona śluzowa
Connective tissue – tkanka łączna
Apart from –  poza
Blood supply – dopływ krwi
Chewing – żucie
Alveolar process – wyrostek zębodołowy
Inflammation – stan zapalny
To cover - pokrywać