The choanae are the posterior nasal apertures, visible in the inferior vier of the skull. The two choanae are separated by the posterior border of the vomer, and are evident at the rear of the palatine bones. Research Choanae
The median and transverse palatine sutures mark the lines of connection of the bones of the palate. The median palatine suture runs from the front of the palate, at the incisive foramen, to the back of the mouth, at the posterior nasal spine. The median palatine suture connects the two palatine processes to each other, as well as connecting the two palatine bones to each other. Research Median Palatine Suture
The mouth is a versatile area of the human anatomy, responsible for articulation in speech, and tasting, chewing, and swallowing food. The mouth cavity is located just below the nasal cavity and is formed by the palatine bones and the palatine processes of the maxilla on top and by the mandible on bottom. At the opening of the mouth cavity are the lips - muscular structures which are covered with thin, membranous skin. The lips occlude the mouth opening during chewing to keep food and liquid within, help manipulate food during chewing, facilitate articulation in speech, and even give a friendly kiss. Within the mouth cavity, the teeth extend down from their maxillary sockets and up from their mandibular sockets to form the dental arcade. The muscles and skin of the cheeks cover the outer sides of the mouth cavity, while the muscular structures of the tongue and sublingual mucosal lining and muscles. When food is brought into the mouth the salivary glands produce saliva. The saliva lubricates the mouth and moistens the food. The inner
surface of the lips, the tongue, and the cheeks manipulate the food so that it is brought between the teeth as the teethclamp down on the food. In a combined action of these motions, with a semi-circular, grinding motion of the teeth, the food is chewed into a paste with the saliva. Enzymes within the saliva begin to break down the food and the tongue moves a portion of this food paste to the back of the
mouth cavity by pressing it up and back along the hard palate. The soft palate, meanwhile, raises to seal off the nasal cavity. The ball of food paste, called a bolus, is passed into the pharynx. The epiglottis lowers to cover the airway so that the food does not enter the larynx. From the pharynx, wave- like contractions, called peristaltic waves, push the bolus down into and through the esophagus and into the stomach, where it is further digested. Research Mouth
The palatine bones consist of a vertical part and a horizontal plate and make up part of the orbital floor, the nasal cavity, and the back part of the palate. The two palatine bones are joined at the palate at the median palatine suture. Each bone is pierced by one greater palatine foramen and two lesser palatine foramina. Each palatine bone is also articulated with the vomer, and the conjunction of these bones forms the posterior nasal spine. The vertical portions of each palatine bone articulate with the inferior nasalconcha and the ethmoid bone. The horizontal plates of the palatine bones also join the two palatine processes of the maxilla bones, at the transverse palatine suture. Research Palatine Bones
The palatine processes are the lower wings of the maxilla which form the two halves of the forward palate. The connection of the two palatine processes is marked with the median palatine suture, which sometimes may be felt by the tongue as a ridge in the roof of the mouth. The palatine processes connect to the palatine bones, which form the posterior plates in the palate. Research Palatine Processes
The median and transverse palatine sutures mark the lines of connection of the bones of the palate. The transverse palatine suture runs laterally across the palate, and connects the two palatine processes of the forward palate to the two palatine bones of the rear palate. Research Transverse Palatine Suture
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Choanae
