Question 1

Which of the following layers of nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium produces the basal lamina of the basement membrane within the oral mucosa?

Accepted Answer

The basal layer produces the basal lamina of the basement membrane.Each area of lining mucosa has at least three layers within the epithelium: basal,intermediate,and superficial.The prickle cell layer is found instead in both orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium as well as parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 2

When viewing the oral mucosa of the floor of the mouth through a microscope,which of the following can be noted?

Accepted Answer

The floor of the mouth has an extremely thin,nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium overlying,but not obscuring,a lamina propria with an extensive vascular supply.The connective tissue papillae of the lamina propria are broad in the floor of the mouth.

Question 3

In a young adult,the buccal mucosa may contain Fordyce spots,which refer to:

Accepted Answer

A variable number of Fordyce spots are scattered throughout the tissue.These are a normal variant,visible as small,yellowish bumps on the surface of the mucosa.They correspond to deposits of sebum from misplaced sebaceous glands in the submucosa.

Question 4

The mucogingival junction is absent from which of the following oral surfaces?

Accepted Answer

There are three areas where the anatomic feature of the mucogingival junction can be noted: on the facial of the maxillary arch and on both the facial and lingual of the mandibular arch but not on the palate.

Question 5

Where are the taste buds located within the circumvallate lingual papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue?

Accepted Answer

Hundreds of taste buds are located in the epithelium surrounding the entire base of each circumvallate lingual papilla,opposite the circular trough lined by the surrounding tongue surface tissue.No taste buds are present in the epithelium of the filiform lingual papillae.Taste buds are located in the epithelial layer on the lateral parts of the leaf-shaped structure of the foliate lingual papillae.A variable number of taste buds are located in the most superficial part of the epithelial layer of the fungiform lingual papillae; however,taste buds are not located near the base of the structure.

Question 6

What type of tissue makes up the bulk of the lamina propria of the oral mucosa?

Accepted Answer

The entire oral cavity has an epithelial covering with connective tissue making up the bulk of lamina propria.

Question 7

Both the attached gingiva and buccal mucosa are mainly pinkish in color and not reddish due to the:

Accepted Answer

The nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium of the labial mucosa and buccal mucosa is extremely thick and overlies and obscures a lamina propria with an extensive vascular supply,giving the overall mucosa an opaque and pinkish appearance.The attached gingiva has a thick layer of mainly parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium that obscures the extensive vascular supply in the lamina propria,making the tissue appear opaque and pinkish.

Question 8

Which of the following is considered correct regarding hyperkeratinization of the oral mucosa?

Accepted Answer

Nonkeratinized epithelium may,however,readily transform into a keratinizing type in response to frictional or chemical trauma,in which case it undergoes hyperkeratinization.Hyperkeratinization commonly occurs on the usually nonkeratinized buccal mucosa when the linea alba forms.Hyperkeratinized tissue is also associated with the chronic heat production from smoking or hot fluids on the hard palate in the form of nicotinic stomatitis.Changes such as hyperkeratinization are reversible if the source of the injury is removed,but it takes time for the tissue to shed the keratin.

Question 9

In the oral cavity,masticatory mucosa always contains a(n):

Accepted Answer

Histologically,masticatory mucosa is associated with orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium as well as parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.Superficial to the basal layer is the prickle layer for both types of keratinization.

Question 10

Which lingual papillae are found in lesser numbers on the body of the dorsal surface of the tongue?

Accepted Answer

The fungiform lingual papillae are found in lesser numbers than are the filiform on the body of the dorsal surface of the tongue.The circumvallate lingual papillae are lined up in an inverted V-shaped row on the dorsal surface of the tongue facing the pharynx,just anterior to the sulcus terminalis.The foliate lingual papillae appear on the lateral surface of the tongue in its most posterior part.The filiform lingual papillae are the most common lingual papillae located on the body of the dorsal surface of the tongue.

Question 11

Which of the following statements concerning pigmentation in the oral cavity is correct?

Accepted Answer

Melanin is a pigment formed by melanocytes,which are epidermal cells derived from the neural crest cells.Because melanocytes are evenly distributed throughout the oral mucosa,clinical levels of pigmentation are based on the degree of melanin-producing activity of the melanocytes,which is controlled by genetic programming.Melanocytes are clear cells that occupy a position in the basal layer of the stratified squamous epithelium between the dividing epithelial cells.Pigmentation appears most abundant in the attached gingiva at the base of the interdental gingiva associated with both dentitions.

Question 12

Melanin pigment for the oral cavity is synthesized in which of the following cells?

Accepted Answer

The melanocytes have small cytoplasmic granules as inclusions called melanosomes,which store the melanin pigment that they have formed.They inject these granules into the neighboring,newly formed epithelial cells of the basal layer.

Question 13

What is the most common cell in the lamina propria of oral mucosa?

Accepted Answer

The most common cell in the lamina propria of all types of oral mucosa,similar to all connective tissue proper,is the fibroblast.Other cells present in the lamina propria in smaller numbers are white blood cells,such as macrophages,lymphocytes,and mast cells.

Question 14

Keratohyalin granules are located in which of the following epithelial layers in the oral cavity?

Accepted Answer

Superficial to the prickle layer is the granular layer,or stratum granulosum.The epithelial cells in this layer are flat and stacked in a layer three to five cells thick.In the cytoplasm,each of the cells has a nucleus with prominent keratohyaline granules,which stain as dark spots.The keratohyaline granules form a chemical precursor for the keratin (keratohyalin) that is found in the more superficial layers.

Question 15

Which of the following layers make up the bulk of nonkeratinized epithelium in the oral cavity?

Accepted Answer

The intermediate layer makes up the bulk of nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.Each area of lining mucosa has at least three layers within the epithelium: basal,intermediate,and superficial.The prickle cell layer is found instead in both orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium as well as parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 16

Which of the following areas of the oral cavity is categorized as a lining mucosa?

Accepted Answer

Lining mucosa includes the buccal mucosa,labial mucosa,and alveolar mucosa,as well as the mucosa lining the ventral surface of the tongue,floor of the mouth,and soft palate.Histologically,lining mucosa is a type that is associated with nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 17

Which is the most superficial layer of the lamina propria of oral mucosa?

Accepted Answer

The lamina propria,like all forms of connective tissue proper,has two layers: papillary and dense.The lamina propria,like all forms of connective tissue proper,has two layers: papillary and dense.Between the papillary layer and the deeper layers of the lamina propria is a capillary plexus.A submucosa may or may not be present deep to the dense layer of the lamina propria,depending on the region of the oral cavity.

Question 18

The attached gingiva of the oral cavity consists of which type of oral mucosa?

Accepted Answer

The oral mucosa of the attached gingiva that covers the alveolar process of the dental arches is classified as a masticatory mucosa.Alveolar mucosa is a type of lining mucosa.

Question 19

Which of the following lingual papillae are involved in the normal variation of geographic tongue?

Accepted Answer

Geographic tongue is a type of normal variation that shows the sensitivity of the filiform lingual papillae to changes in their environment.The lesion appears as red and then paler pink to white patches on the body of the tongue; these patches change shape with time,resembling a geographic map.

Question 20

The basal layer of oral mucosa in the oral cavity generally has:

Accepted Answer

The basal layer for both nonkeratinized and keratinized stratified squamous epithelium is a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells overlying the basement membrane,which,in turn,is situated superior to the lamina propria.

Quiz 9: Oral Mucosa