PARIBHASHA OF MUKHA

PARIBHASHA OF MUKHA

• In Ayurveda, Mukha refers to the oral cavity which is the gateway of the body through which Ahara (food), Jala (water), and Vayu (air) enter.

• It includes the Ostha (lips), Danta (teeth), Jivha (tongue), Talu (palate), Gala (pharynx), Lalagranthi (salivary glands), and Swarayantra (larynx).

• It is the site of Rasa-dnyanendriya (taste sensory organ) and a key structure in speech, respiration, and digestion.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“तत्र मुखं रसज्ञानेन्द्रियस्थानं पाचनस्य च मुख्यं द्वारं”
— Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana

ANATOMY OF OSTHA (LIPS)

• Ostha or lips are the anterior-most part of the mouth, functioning in speech, mastication, facial expression, and sensory reception.

• Each lip has three parts: cutaneous (skin), vermilion border, and mucosal part.

• Supplied by facial artery (branch of external carotid artery) and innervated by facial nerve (VII cranial nerve).

• In Ayurveda, lips are described as Raktadhara kala sthana, rich in blood supply, making them red and sensitive.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“वक्त्रं स्निग्धं रक्तपाण्डुं विचित्रं सुन्दरं स्थिरम्। ओष्ठौ समौ सुसंस्थौ च...”
— Sushruta Samhita Nidana Sthana

ANATOMY OF MUKHA-KUHARA (ORAL CAVITY)

• The oral cavity extends from the lips to the oropharynx, bounded laterally by cheeks, above by palate, and below by tongue and floor of mouth.

• It is divided into:

  • Vestibule – space between lips/cheeks and teeth.

  • Oral cavity proper – lies internal to the teeth.

• Lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

• Involved in chewing, swallowing, speech, and taste.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“मुखगते दोषा दोषाः शरीरस्य विशेषतः।”
— Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana

ANATOMY OF JIVHA (TONGUE)

• Jivha is a muscular organ, crucial for taste, articulation of speech, and initial food manipulation.

• Divided into: tip, body, base, and root.

• Covered with papillae:

  • Filiform – mechanical function.

  • Fungiform, circumvallate, foliate – taste perception.

• Motor innervation – Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).

• Sensory:

  • Anterior 2/3rd – taste by facial nerve (VII), general sensation by trigeminal (V).

  • Posterior 1/3rd – both taste and sensation by glossopharyngeal (IX).

• Ayurvedic texts mention it as a mirror of internal health.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“जिह्वा रोगाणां द्वारं, विकृतिविज्ञानहेतुः।”
— Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana

ANATOMY OF DANTA (TEETH)

• Teeth are calcified structures embedded in alveolar sockets, functioning in mastication and speech.

• In Ayurveda, Danta are said to be Upadhatu of Asthi dhatu.

• Each tooth has crown, neck, and root.

• Divided as:

  • Incisors, Canines, Premolars, Molars.

• Consist of enamel, dentin, pulp, cementum.

• Nerve supply – branches of Trigeminal nerve (CN V).

• Blood supply – branches of maxillary artery.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“दन्ताः स्थिरा नातिदीर्घा नातिकृशा न चातिविस्तीर्णाः।”
— Sushruta Samhita Chikitsa Sthana

ANATOMY OF GALA-TALU (PHARYNX & PALATE)

• Gala includes the pharynx, acting as a common passage for air and food.

• It extends from base of skull to esophagus.

• Subdivisions: Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx.

• Talu refers to the roof of mouth, composed of:

  • Hard palate (anterior bony part).

  • Soft palate (posterior muscular part).

• Functions in deglutition, breathing, and phonation.

• Ayurvedically, Talu is considered a sensitive site, used in Nasya karma and Kavala-gandusha.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“तद्भवः तालुगा दोषा गले रोगान्प्रकल्पयेत्।”
— Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana

ANATOMY OF LALAGRANTHI (SALIVARY GLANDS)

• Three pairs of major salivary glands:

  • Parotid – largest, lies over ramus of mandible, opens near 2nd upper molar.

  • Submandibular – beneath mandible, opens at sublingual papilla.

  • Sublingual – beneath tongue, multiple ducts.

• Minor glands present throughout oral mucosa.

• Produce saliva which contains enzymes (amylase, lysozyme) aiding digestion and antimicrobial action.

• Innervated by parasympathetic fibers from facial and glossopharyngeal nerves.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“लालास्रवो दोषसंयोगात्... तत्र दोषान्निरीक्षेत।”
— Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana

ANATOMY OF SWARAYANTRA (LARYNX)

• Swarayantra or larynx is the voice box, located in anterior neck.

• Composed of cartilages – thyroid, cricoid, arytenoid, epiglottis.

• Vocal cords (true vocal folds) vibrate to produce sound.

• Covered by stratified squamous epithelium (above vocal folds) and respiratory epithelium (below).

• Muscles control pitch, tension, and phonation.

• Motor and sensory supply – Recurrent laryngeal nerve (branch of vagus nerve).

• In Ayurveda, it is the site for Vagindriya (organ of speech).

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
“स्वरभेदस्तु तत्र दोषवशात् सञ्जायते।”
— Charaka Samhita Vimana Sthana

MODERN CORRELATIONS

• ENT textbooks like Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat and Logan Turner’s Diseases of the Nose, Throat and Ear describe these structures in detailed anatomical and clinical perspectives.

• Disorders of these structures lead to:

  • Aphonia/dysphonia (larynx),

  • Glossitis (tongue),

  • Pharyngitis (gala),

  • Sialadenitis (salivary glands),

  • Cleft palate/lip, dental caries, leukoplakia, oral cancers (oral cavity).

• Clinical correlation enhances Ayurvedic diagnosis like:

  • Mukha rogas, Jivharogas, Dantarogas, Talugatarogas, Gala rogas, etc.