Information Package / Course Catalogue
Oral Physiology
Course Code: TIP037
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 1
Prt.: 0
Credit: 1
Lab: 0
ECTS: 1
Objectives of the Course

This course aims to provide dental students with a comprehensive understanding of the physiology of the stomatognathic system. It focuses on key functions such as mastication, swallowing, taste, smell, muscle activity, and temporomandibular joint dynamics within the orofacial region. The course also emphasizes the clinical relevance of these physiological processes in diagnosis and treatment planning in dental practice.

Course Content

This course covers the physiological foundations of the stomatognathic system, including the structure and function of muscles, joints, and sensory pathways involved in oral and facial activities. It provides a detailed examination of essential motor and sensory functions such as mastication, swallowing, sucking, taste, and smell, as well as the physiology and dysfunctions of the temporomandibular joint. Clinical conditions including bruxism, snoring, sleep apnea, and orofacial pain are also analyzed in the context of sleep physiology and neuromuscular control. The course emphasizes the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice through case-based discussions, fostering students’ diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning skills in dentistry.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Mine GEÇGELEN CESUR
Learning Outcomes
1.Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the stomatognathic system, distinguishing between the structural and functional properties of skeletal and masticatory muscles, including various muscle contraction types.
2.Identify the physiology, disorders, and functional impairments of the temporomandibular joint and associated muscles; evaluate clinical signs such as limited mouth opening, pain, and joint sounds.
3.Understand the physiology of swallowing, mastication, sucking, and sleep, including their neural control mechanisms and age-related changes.
4.Describe the physiology of taste and smell, and interpret the importance of these senses and influencing factors in clinical patient–clinician interactions.
5.Recognize the mechanisms of orofacial and referred pain, sleep disorders (snoring, sleep apnea), and common conditions such as teeth clenching/grinding; apply theoretical knowledge to clinical practice through case presentations.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Bordoni, B. & Varacallo, M. (2023). Anatomy, Head and Neck, Temporomandibular Joint. In StatPearls.
2.Wu, Y., Lan, Y., Mao, J., Shen, J., Kang, T. & Xie, Z. (2023). The interaction between the nervous system and the stomatognathic system: from development to diseases. International Journal of Oral Science.
3.Tomaka, A. A., Luchowski, L., Pojda, D., Tarnawski, M. & Domino, K. (2019). The dynamics of the stomatognathic system from 4D multimodal data. In [Conference/Book Chapter].
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Structure and functions of skeletal muscles, types of muscle contraction, muscle atrophy, hypertrophy, and fatigue.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Embryological development stages of the masticatory muscles, physiological characteristics of the masticatory muscles, differences between masticatory muscles and skeletal muscles, effects of masticatory muscle physiology on jaw movements, and muscle diseases related to the oral and jaw regions.
Week 3 - Theoretical
Physiology of the temporomandibular joint, limitation in mouth opening, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), temporomandibular joint pain, and temporomandibular joint sounds.
Week 4 - Theoretical
Receptors of the stomatognathic system and their characteristics, types and features of reflex and voluntary movements within the system.
Week 5 - Theoretical
Teeth clenching and/or grinding, sleep physiology, and events observed during sleep stages.
Week 6 - Theoretical
Physiology of the sucking movement, physiology of mastication, and their neural mechanisms.
Week 7 - Theoretical
Infant swallowing and adult swallowing, physiology and phases of swallowing, abnormal tongue posture, and dysphagia (swallowing difficulties).
Week 8 - Theoretical
Physiology of taste, mechanisms of perception for basic tastes and water taste, and factors affecting taste perception.
Week 9 - Theoretical
hysiology of smell and its relationship with taste physiology, factors influencing the perception and interpretation of smell in clinical practice from both patient and clinician perspectives.
Week 10 - Theoretical
Definition, classification, and evaluation of pain mechanisms, orofacial pain, and referred pain.
Week 11 - Theoretical
Physiology of the stomatognathic system in advanced age and important considerations during dental treatments.
Week 12 - Theoretical
Snoring and sleep apnea.
Week 13 - Theoretical
Kinesiology and its importance in dentistry.
Week 14 - Theoretical
Application of knowledge learned in the course to clinical practice: Clinical case presentations
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory140114
Midterm Examination1314
Final Examination1617
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)25
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes