Mouth of Ox
- The mouth or cavum oris is the first section of the alimentary canal
- It is a short but wide cylindrical cavity and when closed, is completely filled up by the contained structures except for a small space, which remains between the root of the tongue, soft palate and the epiglottis – the glosso-epiglottic space
- It is bounded superiorly by the hard palate, inferiorly by the body of the mandible and mylohyoideus muscles, laterally by the cheeks, posteriorly by the soft palate
- The anterior opening of the mouth, the rima oris is closed by the lips
- The posterior opening of this cavity communicates with the pharynx -the isthmus faucium
- The oral cavity is subdivided into two parts by the teeth and alveolar processes (dental arch)
- The external part between the teeth and cheeks is the vestibule, which becomes evident when food accumulates in this space
- The space enclosed within the teeth and alveolar processes is the mouth cavity proper or cavum oris proprium
The mouth cavity is lined by mucous membrane, which is pink in colour and more or less pigmented. It is continuous with the skin at the margin of the lips and behind it is continuous with the lining of the pharynx
Mouth of Sheep and Goat
- It resembles ox
Mouth of Horse
- The cavum oris is longer and narrower
- The vestibule is less capacious and the mucous membrane may be pigmented (lips and cheeks)
Mouth of Pig
- The rima oris is extensive and the angle of mouth is situated far back
Mouth of Dog
- The form and size vary greatly in different breeds, being long and narrow in some, short and wide in others
- Rima oris is extensive
- Mucous membrane may be pigmented (lips and cheeks)
Mouth of Rabbit
- The cavum oris is elongated
Mouth of Fowl
- The cavum oris is triangular in outline.
- Vestibule is absent, as there is no teeth
