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In human anatomy, the mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food and produces saliva. [2] The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth.
The tongue also serves as a natural means of cleaning the teeth. [2] A major function of the tongue is the enabling of speech in humans and vocalization in other animals. The human tongue is divided into two parts, an oral part at the front and a pharyngeal part at the back.
Uvula. The uvula (pl.: uvulas or uvulae), also known as the palatine uvula or staphyle, is a conic projection from the back edge of the middle of the soft palate, composed of connective tissue containing a number of racemose glands, and some muscular fibers. [1][2] It also contains many serous glands, which produce thin saliva. [3]
The hyoid is anchored by muscles from the anterior, posterior and inferior directions, and aids in tongue movement and swallowing. The hyoid bone provides attachment to the muscles of the floor of the mouth and the tongue above, the larynx below, and the epiglottis and pharynx behind. [citation needed]
Genioglossus is the fan-shaped extrinsic tongue muscle that forms the majority of the body of the tongue. The muscle is paired, having a left and right portion, which are divided at the midline of the tongue by a septum made of connective tissue.
A speech sound made with the middle part of the tongue (dorsum) touching the soft palate is known as a velar consonant. It is possible for the soft palate to retract and elevate during speech to separate the oral cavity (mouth) from the nasal cavity in order to produce the oral speech sounds.
The muscles are: In humans, the mandible, or lower jaw, is connected to the temporal bone of the skull via the temporomandibular joint. This is an extremely complex joint which permits movement in all planes. The muscles of mastication originate on the skull and insert into the mandible, thereby allowing for jaw movements during contraction.
Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx. (Frenulum linguae is the topmost label at right.) The frenulum (or frenum) of the tongue, tongue web, lingual frenulum, frenulum linguae, or fraenulum[1] is a small fold of mucous membrane extending from the floor of the mouth to the midline of the underside of the human tongue.