16.1 Palate and Oral Cavity

Question 1

Identify the greater and lesser palatine nerves. Describe their course.

Answer 1

Originates from CN V2.
Branch off of pterygopalatine ganglia.
Located on the inferior surface of the hard and soft palate respectively.

Question 2

Identify the greater and lesser palatine arteries. Describe their course.

Answer 2

Greater is branch off maxillary artery. Supplies hard palate.
Lesser goes through lesser palatine foramen, supplies soft palate.
Located on the inferior surface of the hard and soft palate respectively.

Question 3

Identify the incisive foramen and the nasopalatine nerve coming out of this space.
Describe its source and course.

Answer 3

Nasopalatine nerve comes from V2.

Branches out of pterygopalatine ganglia.

Question 4

Identify the hard and soft palates

Answer 4

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Question 5

Identify the opening of the pharyngotympanic tube.

Answer 5

Underneath/In the middle of the torus tubaris.

Question 6

Identify the torus tubaris

Answer 6

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Question 7

Identify and describe the salpingopharyngeal fold and salpingopharynegues muscle

Answer 7

salpingopharyngeal fold extends from the posterior end of the torus tubaris down the nasopharynx into the oropharnyx.
The salpingopharyngeus underlies the mucosal fold.

Question 8

Identify the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds.

Recognize the palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles underneath each of these folds respectively.

Answer 8

The folds extend from the soft palate down tot he tongue and pharynx.

Question 9

Identify the palatine tonsil located in the tonsillar crypt.

Answer 9

between the palatoglossal and the palatopharyngeal folds.

Question 10

Identify the levator velie palatine and tensor palatini.

Describe their relative locations as well as the innervation and function for both.

Answer 10

The levator veli palatine is below the torus tubaris.

• Fxn: elevates soft palate.
• Innervation: CN X Vagus

Tensor veli palatine is posterior and lateral to levator palatini, and easily identified by its tendon. Its tendon hooks around the pterygoid hamulus to enter the soft palate from the side.

• Fxn: tenses soft palate.
• Innervation: CN V3

Question 11

Identify the Glossopharngeal nerve (CN IX) in this region

Answer 11

Deeper and just lateral to the stylogossus. Exits skull from jugular foramen.

Question 12

Identify and describe the root, body, and apex of the tongue.

Answer 12

root (posterior one-third), body (anterior two-thirds), and apex and dorsum of the tongue.

Question 13

Identify and describe the vallate papillae, fungiform papillae, and filiform papillae.

Answer 13

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Question 14

Describe the terminal sulcus, foramen cecum, and median furrow of the tongue.

Answer 14

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Question 15

Identify the epiglottis and its following components:
Median glossoepiglottic fold
Lateral glossoepiglottic folds
Epiglottic valleculae

Answer 15

The folds are the epiglottis’ lateral attachments to the tongue.
The epiglottic valleculae is the depression between these folds

Question 16

Identify the genioglossus muscle. Describe its function and innervation.

Answer 16

Forms the bulk of the tongue. Protrudes tongue.

Innervated by CN XII, Hypoglossal nerve

Question 17

Identify the geniohyoid muscle. Describe its function and innervation.

Answer 17

Innervation: C1 from CN XII.
Fxn: Pulls up on hyoid

Question 18

Identify the mylohoid muscle. Describe its function and innervation.

Answer 18

• Fxn: The mylohyoid elevates the hyoid and the tongue. This is particularly important during swallowing and speaking. Alternatively, if other muscles are used to keep the position of the hyoid fixed, then the mylohoid depresses the mandible.
• Innervation: Alveolar branch of V3

Question 19

Identify the frenulum of the tongue, intrinsic musculature of the tongue, sublingual folds, sublingual papillae, and deep lingual veins.

Answer 19

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Question 20

Identify the sublingual and submandibular glands.
Also locate the submandibular duct.
Describe their parasympathetic innervation and function.

Answer 20

• CN VI (Facial) – Internal acoustic meatus – Chorda tympani – Joins lingual nerve of V3 – Synapses in submandibular ganglia – Post-synaptics travel to glands
• Salivary production

Question 21

Identify the lingual nerve in this area.
This is a branch of what nerve?
Describe its main functions.

Answer 21

• The lingual nerve is a branch of V3 which supplies sensory innervation to the tongue.
• It also carries fibers from the facial nerve, which return taste information from the anterior two thirds of the tongue, via the chorda tympani.

Question 22

Identify the submandibular ganglion.

• Describe its location
• Describe its general function

Answer 22

• Located near the proximal end of the tongue along the lingual nerve.
• Receives pre-synaptics (largely from VII). Post-synaptics to to oral mucosa, salivary, and submandibular glands.

Question 23

Identify the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) in this area.

Answer 23

Runs underneath the tongue.

Question 24

Identify the lingual artery. From where does this arise?
Locate its following branches;
-Deep lingual branch
-Sublingual branch

Answer 24

External carotid a.