Key Terms
When learning about the landmarks of the face and oral cavity, it is essential to first look at the terminology to ensure that you understand everything clearly.
Term |
Definition |
| Ala | Winglike tip of the outer side of each nostril; plural, alae |
| Angle of the Mandible | Lower posterior of the ramus |
| Anterior Naris | Nostril; plural, nares |
| Buccal Vestibule | Area between the cheeks and the teeth or alveolar ridge |
| Canthus | Fold of tissue at the corner of the eyelids |
| Fordyce’s Spots | Normal variations that may appear on the buccal mucosa |
| Frenum | A narrow band of tissue that connects two structures (plural, frenulae) |
| Gingiva | Masticatory mucosa that covers the alveolar processes of the jaws and surrounds the necks of the teeth; plural, gingivae |
| Glabella | Smooth surface of the frontal bone; also, the anatomical part directly above the root of the nose |
| Labia | Gateway to the oral cavity; commonly known as “lips” |
| Labial Commissure | The angle at the corner of the mouth where the upper and lower lips join |
| Labial Frenum | Band of tissue that passes from the facial oral mucosa at the midline of the arch to the midline of the inner surface of the lip; also called frenulum; plural, frenula |
| Linea Alba | Normal variation noted on the buccal mucosa |
| Lingual Frenum | Thin fold of mucous membrane that extends from the floor of the mouth to the underside of the tongue |
| Mental Protuberance | Part of the mandible that forms the chin |
| Mucobuccal Fold | Base of the vestibule where the buccal mucosa meets the alveolar mucosa |
| Mucogingival Junction | Distinct line of color change in the tissue where the alveolar membrane meets with attached gingivae |
| Nasion | Midpoint between the eyes just below the eyebrows |
| Nasolabial Sulcus | Groove extending upward between the labial commissure and the nasal ala |
| Oral Cavity Proper | Space on the tongue side within the upper and lower dental arches |
| Parotid Papilla | Small elevation of tissue located on the inner surface of the cheek |
| Philtrum | Rectangular area from under the nose to the midline of the upper lip |
| Root | Facial landmark commonly called the “bridge” of the nose |
| Septum | Tissue that divides the nasal cavity into two nasal fossae |
| Tragus | Cartilaginous projection anterior to the external opening of the ear |
| Vermilion Border | Darker-colored border around the lips |
| Vestibule | Space between the teeth and the inner mucosal lining of the lips and cheeks |
| Zygomatic Arch | Formed when the temporal process of the zygomatic bone articulates with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone |
