The narrowed space at the back of the mouth and PHARYNX, under the soft palate and between the soft palatine arches (the pillars of the fauces) on either side from which the throat opens out. The term appears to be a plural of the singular word faux but is, in fact, a singular entity. From Latin, fauces , throat.
Where are the fauces on the tongue?
The tonsils are lodged in the fauces at the sides of the root of the tongue. Examination of the fauces and throat swab should therefore be routine for all children presenting with arthritis. What is another word for fauces?
What does fauces mean in medical terms?
Medical Definition of fauces. : the narrow passage from the mouth to the pharynx situated between the soft palate and the base of the tongue.
What is the structure of the mouth called?
The cheeks, tongue, and palate frame the mouth, which is also called the oral cavity (or buccal cavity). The structures of the mouth are illustrated in (Figure).
What is the Isthmus of fauces?
The fauces, isthmus of fauces, or the oropharyngeal isthmus, is the opening at the back of the mouth into the throat. It is a narrow passage between the velum and the base of the tongue.
What is fauces pillar?
Medical Definition of pillar of the fauces : either of two curved folds on each side that bound the fauces and enclose the tonsil. — called also arch of the fauces, palatine arch.
What is the isthmus Faucium?
Oropharyngeal isthmus (isthmus faucium) – soft palate, palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, the root of the tongue. Approximation of the arches, to shut off the mouth from the oropharynx, is essential to deglutition.
What is the isthmus of fauces and what does it contain?
The oropharyngeal isthmus, a.k.a. isthmus of fauces, is the relative constriction of the anterior oropharynx that borders the oral cavity. The isthmus is sometimes described as the passage that transitions between the oral cavity and pharynx, but strictly speaking, it is part of the oropharynx.
What is the importance of the fauces?
The muscle of the soft palate and the fauces play important roles in swallowing and breathing.
What is the palatopharyngeal arch?
The palatopharyngeal arch (pharyngopalatine arch, posterior pillar of fauces) is larger and projects farther toward the middle line than the palatoglossal arch; it runs downward, lateralward, and backward to the side of the pharynx, and is formed by the projection of the palatopharyngeal muscle, covered by mucous ...
Where is the palatoglossal arch?
The palatoglossal arch (glossopalatine arch, anterior pillar of fauces) on either side runs downward, lateral (to the side), and forward to the side of the base of the tongue, and is formed by the projection of the glossopalatine muscle with its covering mucous membrane.
What does Faucial mean?
The passage from the back of the mouth to the pharynx, bounded by the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the palatine arches.
Where is the vestibule of the mouth?
Mouth anatomy The vestibule – the space between the soft tissue (lips and cheeks), and the teeth and gums. The vestibule is kept moist by secretions from the parotid salivary glands, which are located in front of the ears and behind the angle of the jaw. Mouth cavity – the mouth cavity is bounded by several structures.
What is the corner of the mouth called?
commissureThe commissure is the corner of the mouth, where the vermillion border of the superior labium (upper lip) meets that of the inferior labium (lower lip).
What is the floor of the mouth called?
The oral cavity includes the lips, hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth), soft palate (the muscular back portion of the roof of the mouth), retromolar trigone (the area behind the wisdom teeth), front two-thirds of the tongue, gingiva (gums), buccal mucosa (the inner lining of the lips and ...
What is the area above tongue called?
The palate, which is the roof of the mouth, is divided into two parts. The front part has ridges and is hard (hard palate). The back part is relatively smooth and soft (soft palate).
What is the aperture of the mouth?
The aperture by which the mouth communicates with the pharynx is called the isthmus faucium. It is bounded, above, by the soft palate; below, by the dorsum of the tongue; and on either side, by the glossopalatine arch. The glossopalatine arch ( arcus glossopalatinus; anterior pillar of fauces) on either side runs downward, lateralward, ...
Which arch is on either side of the tongue?
The glossopalatine arch ( arcus glossopalatinus; anterior pillar of fauces) on either side runs downward, lateralward, and forward to the side of the base of the tongue, and is formed by the projection of the Glossopalatinus with its covering mucous membrane. The pharyngopalatine arch ( arcus pharyngopalatinus;
What are the two arches of the palatine tonsil?
The Palatine Tonsils ( tonsillæ palatinæ tonsil) are two prominent masses situated one on either side between the glossopalatine and pharyngopalatine arches .
Which muscle is in contact with the mucous membrane?
The posterior fasciculus lies in contact with the mucous membrane, and joins with that of the opposite muscle in the middle line; the anterior fasciculus, the thicker, lies in the soft palate between the Levator and Tensor, and joins in the middle line the corresponding part of the opposite muscle.
Which part of the pharynx is the bolus directed downward?
By these means the food is prevented from passing into the nasal part of the pharynx; at the same time, the Pharyngopalatini form an inclined plane, directed obliquely downward and backward along the under surface of which the bolus descends into the lower part of the pharynx.
Where do salivary glands pass?
Surrounding each follicle is a close plexus of lymphatics, from which the lymphatic vessels pass to the deep cervical glands in the neighborhood of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone, behind and below the angle of the mandible.
Which lamella supports the muscles and gives strength to the soft palate?
Palatine Aponeurosis. —Attached to the posterior border of the hard palate is a thin, firm fibrous lamella which supports the muscles and gives strength to the soft palate. It is thicker above than below, where it becomes very thin and difficult to define. Laterally it is continuous with the pharyngeal aponeurosis.
What are the structures of the mouth called?
The cheeks, tongue, and palate frame the mouth, which is also called the oral cavity (or buccal cavity). The structures of the mouth are illustrated in (Figure). At the entrance to the mouth are the lips, or labia (singular = labium).
What is the pocket-like part of the mouth that is framed on the inside by the gums and teeth?
The pocket-like part of the mouth that is framed on the inside by the gums and teeth, and on the outside by the cheeks and lips is called the oral vestibule. Moving farther into the mouth, the opening between the oral cavity and throat (oropharynx) is called the fauces (like the kitchen “faucet”).
What is the most important ingredient in saliva?
Perhaps the most important ingredient in saliva from the perspective of digestion is the enzyme salivary amylase, which initiates the breakdown of carbohydrates. Food does not spend enough time in the mouth to allow all the carbohydrates to break down, but salivary amylase continues acting until it is inactivated by stomach acids. Bicarbonate and phosphate ions function as chemical buffers, maintaining saliva at a pH between 6.35 and 6.85. Salivary mucus helps lubricate food, facilitating movement in the mouth, bolus formation, and swallowing. Saliva contains immunoglobulin A, which prevents microbes from penetrating the epithelium, and lysozyme, which makes saliva antimicrobial. Saliva also contains epidermal growth factor, which might have given rise to the adage “a mother’s kiss can heal a wound.”
What is the pH of salivary mucus?
Bicarbonate and phosphate ions function as chemical buffers, maintaining saliva at a pH between 6.35 and 6.85. Salivary mucus helps lubricate food, facilitating movement in the mouth, bolus formation, and swallowing.
How long does it take for food to move from the mouth to the stomach?
Deglutition is another word for swallowing—the movement of food from the mouth to the stomach. The entire process takes about 4 to 8 seconds for solid or semisolid food, and about 1 second for very soft food and liquids. Although this sounds quick and effortless, deglutition is, in fact, a complex process that involves both the skeletal muscle of the tongue and the muscles of the pharynx and esophagus. It is aided by the presence of mucus and saliva. There are three stages in deglutition: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase ( (Figure) ). The autonomic nervous system controls the latter two phases.
How much saliva is secreted in the mouth?
In fact, an average of 1 to 1.5 liters of saliva is secreted each day. Usually just enough saliva is present to moisten the mouth and teeth. Secretion increases when you eat, because saliva is essential to moisten food and initiate the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates. Small amounts of saliva are also secreted by the labial glands in the lips. In addition, the buccal glands in the cheeks, palatal glands in the palate, and lingual glands in the tongue help ensure that all areas of the mouth are supplied with adequate saliva.
Which glands secrete the majority of saliva?
The Major Salivary Glands. Outside the oral mucosa are three pairs of major salivary glands, which secrete the majority of saliva into ducts that open into the mouth: The submandibular glands, which are in the floor of the mouth, secrete saliva into the mouth through the submandibular ducts.