Magnetic resonance imaging of the oral cavity and tongue.

The oral cavity is the oral portion of the upper aerodigestive tract separated from the oropharynx by the soft palate, anterior tonsillar pillars, and circumvallate papillae. The anatomy of the components of the oral cavity, including the oral tongue, the floor of the mouth, the retromolar trigone, the hard and soft palates, the buccal mucosa, and the gingiva, are described. The pathology discussion includes both malignant (predominantly squamous cell carcinomas) and benign disease entities commonly detected in this region.