Anatomy of the Oral Cavity Figure (Figure 24.3). Reprinted from OpenStax Microbiology (p. 982), by N. Parker, M. Shneegurt, A.-h. Thi Tu, B. M. Forester, and P. Lister, 2016, Rice University. Copyright 2016 by Rice University.

University of Notre Dame

The mouth, or oral cavity, serves as the first step in food processing, with its parts contributing to both mechanical and chemical digestion before passing the food along to the GI tract. Some parts of the digestive system include:

- Tongue
- Teeth
- Lips
- Gums
- Salivary glands

(Photo credits in References)

Oral Cavity

Anatomy of the Oral Cavity Figure

Salivary glands are accessory digestive organs that produce saliva, which serves to lubricate food and aid in digestion through enzymes. Three salivary glands in the mouth are the parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands.

Salivary Glands

Some components of a tooth include:

- Crown
- Dentin
- Pulp cavity

Learn Before

Related