The upper lip and the upper teeth are familiar enough. The small protuberance that you can feel with the tip of the tongue, behind the upper teeth, is called the alveolar ridge. You can also feel that the front part of the roof of the mouth is formed by a bony structure, which is the hard palate.

You will probably have to use your fingertip to feel further back to touch the soft palate, or velum, at the back of the mouth. At the lower end of the soft palate is a small appendage hanging down, known as the uvula. Between the uvula and the larynx is the pharynx.

The lower lip and the tongue form the lower surface of the vocal tract. The tip and blade of the tongue are the most mobile parts. Attached to the lower part of the root of the tongue is the epiglottis.