Oropharynx examination

The extension of oral cavity begins from the mucosal surface of the lips and finishes on the anterior pillar of the tonsils behind which the oropharynx begins and entends from the level of soft palate superiorly to the level of tongue base and vallecula inferiorly. We begin the systematic examination by inspection, which is followed by bimanual palpation (for submandibular glands) and testing the tongue and palatal movements. It is important to be attentive when examining retromolar trigones, buccoalveous sulci, Stensen's and Wharton's ducts openings, and state of dentitions. To test the tongue we need to ask the patient to stick it out and to move in various directions and uvulopalatal symmetry needs to be documented. Upon the pharyngeal mucosal stimulation the gag reflex should be present. We can test the taste sensations in selected cases. In this video we can see an essentially normal examination of the oral cavity and throat with the exceptions of multiple teeth fillings and few punctate venular dilatation near to the tongue frenulum.