After making your saw cut mid-sagittally through the palate,
study the surface structures of the oral cavity.
On the surface of the tongue you should identify the
sulcus terminalis, circumvallate papillae and filiform papillae as seen
in this dissection. On the
undersurface of the tongue find the frenulum, sublingual fold/gland and caruncle.
Review the palatoglossal
fold, palatopharyngeal fold and find the glossopharyngeal nerve passing
to the posterior 1/3 of the tongue.
Carefully remove the membrane lateral to the tongue. As seen in this
dissection you will expose
structures such as the lingual nerve, submandibular duct, and styloglossus
muscle. Notice how the submandibular duct crosses over the lingual n. HINT: Remember, you have already dissected many of these structures in the
submandibular triangle and infratemporal fossa. Tugging on them with your forceps
makes it easier to follow them into the oral cavity. It will help if you remember that the
submandibular duct is related superiorly to
the lingual nerve as seen in ths dissection.
