What Does jaws Mean
The term fauces , whose etymological origin is found in the Latin language, refers to the posterior sector of the mouth of a mammalian animal . The jaws begin at the soft palate and extend to the area where the esophagus begins .
The mouth is the cavity where the teeth and tongue meet. It is the upper opening of the digestive tract : through it the food enters. The posterior part, in humans and in other mammals, is known as the fauces.
It should be noted that the palate is the inner and upper part of the mouth. The soft palate, where the jaws begin, is the membranous and muscular curtain that allows the separation of the oral cavity and the pharynx (the sector of the digestive tract that continues into the mouth).
The fauces, in short, begin at the soft palate, continue in the pharynx and reach the beginning of the esophagus (the section of the digestive tract that develops between the pharynx and the stomach ).
The opening located between the posterior region of the mouth and the mentioned pharynx is called the isthmus of the fauces . This isthmus is surrounded by the veil and the pillars of the palate and, below, by the base of the tongue .
In colloquial language, the mouth of any animal is often called a jaw , especially if it is a ferocious or wild animal. For example: "In the circus I saw how a man put his head into the jaws of a lion" , "From the jaws of the crocodile protruded the legs of a bird" , "The young man ran and ran so as not to fall into the jaws of the predator ” .
Maw swab
In clinical medicine, there is a test that goes by several names, including jaw swab , throat swab, and rapid antigen test . It is a procedure used to detect the bacteria called group A streptococcus , which causes diseases such as scarlet fever and throat infection.
Among the most common symptoms of scarlet fever and throat infection we can mention pain and fever. It is important to note that these diseases are very easily spread. To treat them, antibiotics are usually indicated.
The jaw swab begins when the healthcare provider gently sweeps the cottony tip of a long swab down the back of the throat and down the tonsils. If the doctor is not dexterous and gentle, this can be quite annoying for patients , especially the smallest ones, and even cause gagging.
Depending on the infrastructure of each medical center, the results of the analysis can be received in a matter of minutes or hours: if it tests positive, then the patient has a streptococcal infection and the professional can proceed to indicate an appropriate treatment; conversely, a negative result can lead to a test called a culture to completely rule out the presence of this bacteria.
It is worth mentioning that in a case of streptococcal throat infection, milder medications, used to calm an irritation, are not effective, and this is one of the reasons why it is necessary to swab the jaws. The symptoms of this disorder are as follows:
* difficulty swallowing, accompanied or not by pain ;
* sore throat;
* fever;
* swollen glands in the neck area, or pain when touched;
* vomiting or nausea;
* skin rashes;
* stomach or headache pain;
* lack of appetite;
* redness and swelling of the tonsils;
* white patches in the throat and on the tongue.