Oral Mucousmembrane

Oral Mucous Membrane
1.Oral Mucosa
The moist lining of the oral cavity is called Oral Mucosa or Oral Mucous Membrane
Dr.Syed Sadatullah King Khalid University
The function of oral mucosa is protection, sensation and secretion It is continuous with the skin outside the oral cavity and differs from it in appearance and structure
Epitheliu m
Lamina Propria
Submucosa
Periosteu m Bon e
Oral Epithelium Oral epithelium forms the surface of the oral mucosa that forms a barrier between the oral environment and the deeper tissues
It is derived from the embryonic ectoderm It is stratified squamous epithelium and may or may not be keratinized Beneath the epithelium lies the connective tissue
Oral Epithelium -Keratinized
Keratinized oral epithelium Most of the oral mucosal surface is lined by nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium except gingiva, hard palate and dorsal surface of the tongue where the epithelium is keratinized The keratinized cells have no nuclei and the cytoplasm is displaced by large numbers of keratin filaments Keratinized epithelium is associated with masticatory function and have four layers of cells
The four layers are: 1.Stratum Basale 2.Stratum Spinosum 3.Stratum Granulosum 4.Stratum Corneum
Cellular layers of oral epithelium -
1. Stratum Basale The cells of the stratum basale are cuboidal or low columnar and form a single layer resting on the basal lamina
The basal lamina is at the interface of the epithelium and lamina propria Epithelial cells of the oral mucosa are in a constant state of renewal The basal cells show the maximum mitotic activity
2. Stratum Spinosum Stratum spinosum is usually several cells thick They shaped like polyhedron with short cytoplasmic processes The stratum basale and the first layers of stratum spinosum are referred to as stratum germinativum because these cells give rise to new epithelial cells
3. Stratum Granulosum Cells of stratum granulosum are flat and are found in layers of three to five cells thick
This layer is prominent in keratinized epithelium (and absent in nonkeratinized epithelium) These cells have keratohyaline granules in their cytoplasm Keratohyaline granules help to form the matrix of the keratin fibres found in the superficial layer
4. Stratum Corneum Cells of stratum corneum are flat, devoid of nuclei and full of keratin filament surrounded by a matrix
These cells are continuously being sloughed and are replaced by epithelial cells that migrate from the underlying layers
Nonkeratinized oral epithelium Nonkeratinized epithelial cells in the superfecial layers do not have keratin filaments in the cytoplasm
The surface cells also have nuclei The stratum corneum and stratum granulosum layers are absent This epithelium is associated with lining of the oral cavity
Connective tissue Connective tissue can be differentiated as Lamina Propria and Submucosa Lamina propria Lamina propria is the connective immediately below the epithelium tissue layer
It can be divided into papillary layer and the reticular layer Papillary layer forms finger like projections of connective tissue that extend deep in the epithelial layers
Papillary layer is prominent in masticatory mucosa and reticular layer is prominent in lining mucosa Lamina prorpria consists of blood vessels and cells like fibroblasts, cells of blood vessels and lymphatics and nerves Epithelium is avascular, hence its metabolic needs come via the vessels of the lamina propria
Submucosa Submucosa lies below the lamina propria and serves as an attachment between lamina propria and bone or skeletal muscle
It is found in the cheeks, lips and parts of the palate It consists of large blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics and its functions are nutrition and defense
2. Functional types of Oral Mucosa

Lining mucosa and Masticatory mucosa Lining mucosa Lining mucosa covers all soft tissue of the oral cavity except the gingiva, hard palate and the dorsal surface of the tongue Lip Lip is covered by lining mucosa
Lip with skin on outer surface and lining mucosa on inner surface
Vermilion border The junction between the skin and mucous membrane is known as the vermilion border Here the epithelium is thin therefore, the red blood cells in the capillaries show through contributing to the vermilion colour
Vermelion Zone
Ventral surface of the tongue The lining mucosa here contains both lamina propria and submucosa The submucosa merges with the muscle bundles of the ventral surface of the tongue
Ventral surface of tongue
Cheek In the cheek the underlying submucosa contains fat cells and small mixed salivary glands
Cheek
Floor of the mouth The mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth is thin and loosely attached to the underlying structures
Floor of the mouth
Masticatory mucosa Masticatory mucosa covers the gingiva and hard palate In edentulous mouth, masticatory mucosa covers the chewing surface of the dental arches
Gingiva Gingiva has keratinized or parakeratinzed epithelium with no submucosal layer It develops from the union of oral epithelium and reduced enamel epithelium of the developing tooth Gingiva can be classified as free gingiva, attached gingiva and interdental papilla
Normal Gingiva
Development of gingiva from oral epithelium and reduced enamel epithelium
Anatomy of gingiva
Free gingiva (or marginal gingiva) It is that part of the oral mucosa that surrounds the necks of the teeth and forms the free margin of the gingival tissue It is differentiated apically from the attached gingival by the free gingival groove The inner side of it forms the gingival sulcus The free gingival mucosa is composed of stratified squamous epithelium that may be keratinized, parakeratinzed or sometimes nonkeratinized
Free gingiva
Alveolar Mucosa
(Arrows - Interdental Papillae)
Attached gingiva The attached gingiva lies between the free gingival groove and the alveolar mucosa The junction of the attached gingiva and the alveolar mucosa is called mucogingival junction In healthy mouth attached gingiva shows stippling (orange-peel appearance) which is a characteristic of this type of mucosa
Histology of gingiva
Mucogingival junction
(arrows)
Alveolar Mucosa
Interdental papilla Interdental papillae are those parts of gingival tissue that appear in-between teeth apical to the contact points Interdental grooves extend vertically between the interdental papilla corresponding to the depressions between the roots Confirming to the shape of the interproximal contact area is a valley like depression in the interdental papilla called Col. This depression lies in the facial and lingual plane
Interdental Papilla
(arrow)
Col accentuated during inflammation

(arrows)
Diagram of positional relation of col in health and disease for canine, premolar and molar
Junctional epithelium Junctional epithelium forms the seal of the gingival epithelium and the tooth It forms the floor of the gingival sulcus and extends apically to the enamel of the tooth Disturbances of epithelial attachment results deepening of the sulcus which is a sign gingival/periodontal disease in of
Histology of gingiva
Hard palate The surface of the hard palate that is visible in the mouth is covered by masticatory mucosa The lateral regions of the posterior part contains palatine glands These glands are purely mucous glands The midline of the hard palate is called median raphe where there is no submucosa A series of folds appear in the anterior part of the palate called rugae
Hard Palate and Soft Palate
Palatal rugae
(arrow)
3 Mucosa of the Tongue

Specialized mucosa covers the dorsal surface of the body of the tongue
The connective tissue binds the epithelium to the underlying skeletal muscle The epithelium is modified, keratinized, stratified covered with papillae, which can be seen by naked eye
The different papillae found on the dorsal surface of the tongue are: 1.Filliform papillae 2.Funginform papillae
3.Circumvallate papillae 4.Foliate papillae
Dorsum of Tongue
Cross section of tongue
1. Filliform papillae Filliform papillae are pointed keratinized epithelial cells extensions of the
They are the most numerous papillae of the tongue

They are not associated with taste buds
Scanning electron micrograph of Filliform papillae(arrow)
Filliform Papillae
2. Fungiform papillae Fungiform papillae are fewer than the filliform papillae and are scattered over the dorsal surface of the tongue They are rounded elevations above the surface of the tongue They have taste buds on their superior surfaces The surface of fungiform papillae is not keratinized
Scanning electron micrograph of Fungiform papillae (arrow) surrounded by Filliform papillae
Fungiform Papillae
3. Circumvallate papillae The circumvallate papillae are located at the junction of the anterior two thirds (body) and posterior one thirds (base) of the tongue There are eight to twelve in number and are bigger than fungiform papillae Circumvallate papillae are lined with taste buds and also openings of serous glands The secretion from the serous glands washes away food for renewal of taste
Circumvallate Papilla and Taste buds
(arrows)
4. Foliate papillae Foliate papillae are located in the furrows along the posterior sides of the tongue They may be lined with taste buds
They are not prominent in human beings

Oral Mucousmembrane

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Oral Mucousmembrane

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Oral Mucous Membrane

Dr.Syed Sadatullah King Khalid University