What structures bound the oral cavity?

The oral cavity is primarily defined by several structures that create its boundaries, which include the gums and palate. The gums, or gingiva, are the soft tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth, providing a seal around the teeth and protecting the underlying structures. Meanwhile, the palate, which is the roof of the mouth, separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, playing a crucial role in both the functions of eating and speech. Together, these structures form the overall boundaries of the oral cavity, housing the teeth and facilitating the initial process of digestion through mechanical breakdown of food.

While other structures like the tongue, teeth, and mandible are important components of the oral cavity, they do not define its boundaries in the same way as the gums and palate do. This distinction is essential in understanding the anatomy of the oral cavity and how it interacts with other systems in the body.