10.2 The Pharynx

Question 1

What are the three parts of the pharynx?

Answer 1

Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx

Question 2

What are the boundaries of the nasopharynx?

Answer 2

Superior - skull
Inferior - Soft palate
Anterior - Posterior choanae
Posterior - Adenoid tonsils

Question 3

What are the contents of the nasopharynx?

Answer 3

Adenoids

Eustachian tube orifice

Question 4

What are boundaries of the oropharynx?

Answer 4

Superior - soft palate
Inferior - epiglottis
Anterior - oral cavity
Posterior - C2+C3

Question 5

What are the contents of the oropharynx?

Answer 5

Palatine tonsils

Tonsillar pillars

Question 6

When do palatine tonsils atrophy?

Answer 6

After puberty

Question 7

What is the lymphatic drainage of palatine tonsils?

Answer 7

Jugulodigastric nodes

Question 8

What is the arterial supply to the palatine tonsils?

Answer 8

Facial artery

Question 9

What is the venous supply to the palatine tonsils?

Answer 9

Pharyngeal plexus

Question 10

What is Waldeyer’s ring and what does it consist of?

Answer 10

MALT

Adenoids, tubal tonsils, palatine tonsils, lingual tonsil

Question 11

What are the borders of the laryngopharynx?

Answer 11

Superior - Epiglottis
Inferior - Cricoid cartilage
Anterior - Larynx
Posterior - C4-C6

Question 12

What are the three overlapping muscles of the pharynx?

Answer 12

Superior constrictor
Middle constrictor
Inferior constrictor

Question 13

What is the blood supply to the pharyngeal musculature?

Answer 13

Arterial - Superior thyroid, ascending pharygeal, ascending and descending palatine
Venous - Pharyngeal venous plexus (IJV)

Question 14

What can adenoid enlargement lead to?

Answer 14

Eustachian tube obstruction

Nasal obstruction

Question 15

What kind of malignancy is common in the nasopharynx?

Answer 15

Squamous cell carcinoma

Question 16

What is a pharyngeal pouch (Zenker’s diverticulum) ?

Answer 16

Posterior herniation of pharyngeal mucosa, forms a diverticulum at Killian’s triangle