11) Oral Cavity and Tongue

Question 1

What forms the roof of the oral cavity?

Answer 1

Hard and soft palate

Question 2

What forms the floor of the oral cavity?

Answer 2

Tongue and other soft tissues

Question 3

What forms the lateral walls of the oral cavity?

Answer 3

Cheek (buccinator muscles)

Question 4

What forms the anterior opening of the oral cavity?

Answer 4

Oral fissure

Question 5

What forms the posterior opening of the oral cavity?

Answer 5

Oropharyngeal isthmus

Question 6

What is the oral vestibule?

Answer 6

Space between teeth and cheeks/lips

Question 7

What is the oral cavity proper?

Answer 7

Space between teeth to palatopharyngeal arch, uvula and epiglottis

Question 8

What is the anterior arch of the oropharyngeal isthmus and what muscle forms this?

Answer 8

Palatoglossal arch by palatoglossus muscle

Question 9

What is the posterior arch of the oropharyngeal isthmus and what muscle forms this?

Answer 9

Palatopharyngeal arch by palatopharyngeus muscle

Question 10

What is the function of the muscles of the soft palate?

Answer 10

Elevate soft palate during swallowing and yawning

Question 11

What forms the hard palate?

Answer 11

Maxilla and palatine bone

Question 12

What is the innervation to the soft palate?

Answer 12

Vagus nerve (pharyngeal branch)

Question 13

In terms of the uvula, how does damage to the vagus nerve present?

Answer 13

Stronger side is unopposed so pulls uvula away from side of affected nerve

Question 14

Why is the gag reflex important?

Answer 14

Prevents choking

Question 15

What would be seen upon testing of the gag reflex?

Answer 15

Lift of soft palate

Question 16

Describe the nervous arc in the gag reflex:

Answer 16

Afferent limb: glossopharyngeal

Efferent limb: vagus

Question 17

Name the teeth found in a normal adult:

Answer 17

Central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, pre-molars and molars

Question 18

Describe the nervous supply to the lower jaw:

Answer 18

Inferior alveolar nerve (V3)

Question 19

A patient presents to you with loss of sensation over lower jaw after being punched in the same area, what is likely to have happened?

Answer 19

Mandibular fracture causing damage to inferior alveolar nerve running in mandibular fossa

Question 20

What are the 4 extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 20

Genioglossus
Hyoglossus
Styloglossus
Palatoglossus

Question 21

What are the functions of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 21

Anchor tongue to hyoid and mandible

Allow tongue to change position

Question 22

What are the 4 intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 22

Superior longitudinal, vertical, transverse and inferior longitudinal

Question 23

What are the functions of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 23

Change shape of the tongue

Question 24

Describe the sensory innervation to the tongue:

Answer 24

Anterior 2/3rds:
General: lingual (V3)
Special: chorda tympani (VII)

Posterior 1/3rd: glossopharyngeal (IX)

Question 25

How would a person with damage to right hypoglossal nerve present?

Answer 25

Tongue deviating to right side

Question 26

Through which duct to parotid gland secretions enter the oral cavity?

Answer 26

Stenson’s duct

Question 27

Through which duct to submandibular gland secretions enter the oral cavity?

Answer 27

Wharton’s duct

Question 28

A patient comes to you and states that they get a swelling on their lower jaw while eating. What is the likely diagnosis?

Answer 28

Salivary stone in submandibular duct

Question 29

What is tonsillitis?

Answer 29

Inflammation of palatine tonsil

Question 30

How does tonsillitis present?

Answer 30

Sore throat
Odynophagia/dysphagia
Tonsils enlarged and erythematous

Question 31

What are some viral causes of tonsillitis?

Answer 31

Rhinovirus and adenovirus

Question 32

What are some bacterial causes of tonsillitis?

Answer 32

Beta-haemolytic strep

Question 33

How would you differentiate between viral and bacterial tonsillitis?

Answer 33

Viral: dry cough
Bacterial: cervical lymphadenopathy, fever and pus

Question 34

What is a severe complication of bacterial tonsillitis?

Answer 34

Peritonsillar abscess (Quinsy)

Question 35

What are the common causes of peritonsillar abscess?

Answer 35

Strep pyogenes

S. aureus, H. influenza or mixed flora

Question 36

How would those with a peritonsillar abscess present?

Answer 36

Systemically unwell, trismus, drooling, unilateral abscess

Question 37

How would you tell the difference between tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess?

Answer 37

Anterior arch remains, exudate and bilateral swelling in tonsillitis but not in quinsy