The hard palate is the bony, anterior roof of the mouth. Posterior to it is the soft palate, which is formed of cartilage. Behind the soft palate is the uvula, which hangs down from the roof of the posterior oral cavity. It largely prevents swallowed food from entering the nasal cavity.
In the floor of the mouth is the muscular tongue. It attaches by an anterior lingual frenulum, which limits movement of the tongue. Between the lips and the gums is the vestibule. An anterior labial frenulum connects the inside of the lower lip to the gums. The fauces is the opening to the oropharynx.
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