Mouth

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mouth

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Oral cavity or buccal cavity
2. What is the primary anatomical components?Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, palate, lips, cheeks
3. What does the mouth do when we eat?The mouth chews food into smaller pieces and starts digestion with saliva that contains enzymes. This makes it easier for the body to break down food and absorb nutrients.
4. How does the tongue help us taste and talk?The tongue has taste buds on its papillae to detect flavors, and it moves quickly to shape words and sounds for speech.

Oral Microbiome: The diverse community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses residing in the oral cavity, influencing health and disease.
Deglutition: The physiological process of swallowing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach.
Phonetics: The study of speech sounds, their production, and their physical properties, heavily involving oral structures.