Surgery of the Oral Cavity

The oral cavity extends from the lips anteriorly to the palatoglossal folds posteriorly. This includes the tongue, floor of the mouth, lips, hard palate, inner cheek mucosa, including the vestibule of the mouth, and the gums. The floor of the mouth represents the area situated below the movable part of the tongue bounded by the dental arch and situated above the muscular diaphragm (mylohyoid muscle) that separates the oral cavity from the neck. Due to their anatomical and physiological proximity, the lesions of the oral cavity are usually discussed as one entity. The tongue occupies most of the oral cavity and is richly innervated with five cranial nerves contributing to the complex innervation of this multifunctional organ. Examination of the tongue is the mainstay of the examination of the head and neck. Various signs would indicate various localized or systemic pathologies. This chapter discusses the lesions with surgical interest related to the tongue and oral cavity with special emphasis on ulcerative and neoplastic lesions.