Mouth

The mouth is the opening through which an animal takes in food. It is usually located in the head, but not always; the mouth of a planaria[?] is in the middle of its belly.

Most animals have a complete digestive system, with a mouth at one end and an anus at the other. Which end forms first in ontogeny is a criterion used to classify animals into protostome and deuterostome.

Some animals, such as the cnidarians and the planaria, have no anus. They expel waste through the mouth, or as do brachiopods, which have very efficient digestive systems, roll it around in the stomach until it's finished.

Some animals, such as the tapeworm, don't even have a mouth. The tapeworm lives inside the digestive system, so it doesn't need its own digestive system.

In many animals, the mouth has mouthparts[?] to chew food, hold food, or inject poison. In arthropods, they are external modified legs; in gnathostome vertebrates, they are internal.

The horny structures covering the mouth of a bird compose its beak or bill.

The human mouth is covered by an upper and lower lip. They play an important role in talking, facial expression, kissing, drinking (especially with a straw), oral sex, smoking. Infants are born with a sucking reflex, by which they instinctively[?] know to suck for nourishment using their lips and jaw. Lips are often adorned with lipstick.

According to etiquette the mouth is kept closed during chewing.

See also Tongue, Teeth, Lip piercing.

Common misspelling and questions (FAQ)

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Beings it only can part,--beings it only can join. Soon as the soul 'gins to speak, then can the soul speak no more! That which he wisely omits shows me the master of style. That which lends her her charms is what she covers--her shame. One which composes for thee, thou art a poet forsooth! Which by a ne'er ceasing war 'gainst thee thyself is produced? But that philosophy's self ever may last is my hope. Those whom thou lovest, who love thee, into Mnemosyne's arms. For the raptures of love none but the bard should e'er know. Ever the good with the great, ever the great with the good! Rapture, do thou lead me on ever in roseate chains! Ye will but learn to know truth when ye divide in the search. Thou art successful in both; ne'er has the Gaul had success. But before me they stand, when I the suffering see. THE EPIC HEXAMETER. Giddily onward it bears thee with resistless impetuous billows; THE DISTICH. In the hexameter rises the fountain's watery column, THE EIGHT-LINE STANZA. .