Description:

 

As the first part of the digestive system, all foods ingested by the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, can be mechanically broken up through the process of chewing, known as mastication. These are accomplished with the teeth, which makes digesting smaller components easier. Each adult human has 32 teeth: 8 incisors in the middle that are sharp and “cut” food down, 4 canines that surround them that are pointed and tear foods down, 8 premolars surrounding the canines that have ridges, and 12 molars around those that are large and flat. Food can also be chemically broken down with the production of saliva. To hold food within the mouth, the lips and cheeks enclose the oral cavity. The cheeks are lined with mucous membranes called gums. At the roof of your mouth is the palate, which allows the separation of the digestive system from the respiratory system by blocking the nasal cavity. The front part is called the hard palate while the back is the soft palate, which also contains the uvula which will take the food into the oropharynx. Finally, the tongue, which allows for taste, contains small projections called papillae.