Lips

Definition

Lips are the soft, movable structures forming the upper and lower edges of the mouth opening. They play crucial roles in speech, facial expression, and initial stages of digestion such as food intake and taste.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Lips are involved in the mechanical breakdown of food through processes like biting and chewing.
2. They contain numerous sensory receptors that help in detecting temperature and texture of food.
3. Lips assist in forming a seal to keep food inside the mouth during chewing.
4. They contribute to the initial phase of digestion by providing tactile feedback that helps in manipulating food.
5. The health of lips can reflect nutritional deficiencies, such as cracks or sores indicating possible vitamin B deficiencies.

Review Questions

• What role do lips play in the initial stages of digestion?
• How can the condition of someone's lips indicate their nutritional status?
• What sensory functions do lips perform that aid in digestion?

Related terms

Saliva: A digestive fluid produced by salivary glands that begins the breakdown of carbohydrates.

Chewing: The process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth to increase its surface area for enzymes to act upon.

Taste Buds: Sensory organs located on the tongue that detect different tastes such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.