The Mouth and Palate

The region of the mouth extends backwards to the palatoglossal arches (the anterior pillars of the fauces). The area in front of the gums and cheeks is referred to as the vestibule and that area inside the teeth is the cavity proper. Visible is opening of the parotid duct (of Stensen) opposite the upper second molar and there may be additional openings of separate molar glands as well as numerous buccal and labial glands.