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Human Buccal Cavity – Structure and Functions

Introduction

A human buccal cavity refers to the mouth through which air and food enter our body. Bucca is Latin for cheek; the buccal cavity refers to the part of the mouth between the teeth and cheeks. It is set at the upper end of the alimentary canal, opens at the lips and empties into the throat. The human mouth comprises of two sections:

  • The vestibule: it is the area between the cheeks and the teeth
  • The oral cavity proper: It  is mostly filled with the tongue and bounded anteriorly and on the sides by the alveolar processes containing the teeth and posteriorly by the isthmus of the fauces

Parts of the Human Buccal Cavity

Human buccal cavity comprises of the following:

  1. LIPS – The entrance to our mouth, lips are movable, muscular structures. They appear reddish-pink owing to the underlying blood vessels, which are covered by transparent and thin epithelium tissues. 
  2. TONGUE – Mainly consisting of muscle fibres, the tongue is divided into an oral portion and a pharyngeal (throat). There are more or less about 100 taste receptor cells in each of our taste buds. However, without saliva we wouldn’t be able to taste anything. Besides taste, the tongue is also involved in speech, cleansing of the mouth, aiding in swallowing food, among other functions. (Interesting fact: the only muscle in the human body that functions without the support of the skeleton is the tongue.)
  3. VESTIBULE – the space between our teeth and gums; it is situated behind the angle of jaws and in front of our ears. The secretions from the parotid salivary glands help keep the vestibule moist. 
  4. TEETH – children usually have 20 teeth while adults have 32 teeth, 16 each in the upper and bottom jaw. They are the strongest elements in the human body. The set of teeth are divided into incisors, canine, molars and premolars. Teeth help grind the food in order to break into smaller pieces, making them easier to swallow and digest.
  5. GUMS – they are the soft tissues hugging our teeth and offering them a protective cover. Gums are made of fibrous and dense tissues and run along the alveolar arches. Healthy gums ensure good dental health and a good breath. If your gums are red and firm, it means they are in good health. 
  6. PALATE – the palate is divided into hard and soft palates. The roof of our mouth is the hard palate, while the membrane hanging between the mouth and back of the throat is the soft palate. Another part of the palate is the uvula, which dangles when you pull your tongue out. 

Human Buccal Activity

As mentioned earlier, the primary functions of the human buccal cavity are to intake food and air. The buccal nerve sends sensation to the lining and outside of the cheeks and also the gum areas. Along with it, vocal sounds are produced by the mouth and inner mouth anatomy. Thermoregulation is another important feature; it helps in temperature control.

Let’s understand in detail how the in buccal cavity of human being digestion takes place.

Digestion

To begin with, the gastrointestinal tract or the digestive tract is from where the food we eat enters our body. It primarily consists of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, intestines and anus. In the buccal cavity of the human being digestion begins. To carefully break it down into steps:

  • First, the food enters our body through the mouth as we chew using our teeth and moisten it with saliva
  • The enzyme (found in saliva) breaks down carbohydrates into sugar
  • Next, the tongue helps push back the food into our mouth for it to be swallowed
  • When we swallow, our uvula and soft palate ensure that neither food nor liquid passes into the nasal cavity
  • And finally, the epiglottis covers the trachea so that the food is led directly into the oesophagus, which in turn leads the food to the stomach

Communication 

Buccal Cavity in humans is used for communication as well. That’s right, a process so natural and almost effortless for many is actually a bit more complex than it seems. When we talk, a string of events takes place in a specific order for communication to actually happen. At a glance:

  • The air is expelled out through the vocal cords found in the larynx
  • As they vibrate, the sound is produced
  • The tightness of the cords and the force with which the air is expelled decide the type of sound produced
  • Next, the way we make use of our tongue and lips forms the sound
  • The hard and soft palates and the nose also play a part in producing this sound used for communication

Conclusion:

Let’s do a quick recap of the human buccal activity. It is also known as the oral cavity and refers to the human mouth. Among the list of functions, it primarily is used to begin the digestion process and inhale air. The buccal cavity in humans consists of the vestibule and the oral cavity proper.