2 - Head & Neck - General

Question 1

How would you test for cranial nerve XI during an examination?

Answer 1

Innervates Sternocleidomastoid and Trapezius:

• Lateral rotation of head against resistance
• Shrug shoulders against resistance

Question 2

Which number cranial nerve is the facial nerve?

Answer 2

CN VII

Question 3

Name the muscle which surrounds the eye socket, and the nerve which innervates it:

Answer 3

Orbicularis oculi
Facial nerve (CN VII)

Question 4

What is the function of Orbicularis oculi?

Answer 4

Inner palpebral part = gently closes eyelid

Outer orbital part = closes eyelid more forcefully

Question 5

Name the muscle which opens the eyelid, and the nerve which innervates it:

Answer 5

Levator palpebrae superioris
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)

Question 6

Name the muscle which raises the eyebrows, and the nerve which innervates it:

Answer 6

Occipitofrontalis
Facial nerve (CN VII)

Question 7

What is the function of Occipitofrontalis?

Answer 7

Raises eyebrows

Question 8

Name the muscle which surrounds the mouth, and the nerve which innervates it:

Answer 8

Orbicularis Oris
Facial nerve (CN VII)

Question 9

What is the function of Orbicularis Oris?

Answer 9

Purses lips

Question 10

Name the muscle which sucks in your cheeks, and the nerve which innervates it:

Answer 10

Buccinator
Facial nerve (CN VII)

Question 11

What is the function of the buccinator muscle?

Answer 11

Sucks in cheeks

Question 12

Is the buccinator a muscle of facial expression, or of mastication? Therefore which nerve innervates it?

Answer 12

Facial expression
Facial nerve (CN VII)

Question 13

Name the muscle which depresses the mandible, and the nerve which innervates it:

Answer 13

Platysma
Facial nerve (CN VII)

Question 14

What is the function of Platysma?

Answer 14

• Depresses mandible

- Depresses angle of mouth

Question 15

Which nerve innervates the dilator muscles of the lips?

Answer 15

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Question 16

Name the main muscles of mastication, and the nerve which innervates them:

Answer 16

1) Masseter
2) Temporalis
3) Medial Pterygoids
4) Lateral Pterygoids

Mandibular branch of Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Question 17

Name the main muscle which opens the mouth, and the nerve which innervates it:

Answer 17

Lateral Pterygoids

Mandibular branch of Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Question 18

Name the most powerful muscle of mastication, and its main function:

Answer 18

Masseter

Elevates mandible

Question 19

Name the 2 muscles which can elevate the mandible, and the nerve which innervates them:

Answer 19

1) Masseter
2) Temporalis
3) Medial Pteygoids

Mandibular branch of Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Question 20

Which muscles are innervated by the Accessory nerve? What number cranial nerve is it?

Answer 20

1) Sternocleidomastoid
2) Trapezius

CN XI

Question 21

What is the function of Sternocleidomastoid, and what nerve is it innervated by?

Answer 21

• Lateral flexion of head
• Flexion of neck
• Extension of neck

Accessory nerve (CN XI)

Question 22

What is the function of Trapezius, and what nerve is it innervated by?

Answer 22

• Upper = elevates scapula (shrugs shoulders)
• Middle = retracts scapula
• Lower = depresses scapula

Accessory nerve (CN XI)

Question 23

Name the 5 layers of the scalp:

Answer 23

1) Skin
2) Dense Connective tissue
3) Epicranial Aponeurosis
4) Loose areolar connective tissue
5) Periosteum

Use SCALP to remember

Question 24

Which layer of the scalp connects the Occipitalis to the Frontalis?

Answer 24

Epicranial Aponeurosis

Question 25

Which layer of the scalp is the ‘danger area’, and why?

Answer 25

Loose areolar connective tissue

• Pus and blood spread easily within it, and can pass into the cranial cavity via the Emissary veins, leading to Meningitis

Question 26

Give 3 factors which increase bleeding from scalp lacerations:

Answer 26

1) Pull of Occipitofrontalis muscle prevents closure of wound
2) Blood vessels are adhered to dense connective tissue, preventing vasoconstriction
3) Many anastomoses between blood vessels

Question 27

Which artery can be palpated at the inferior margin of the mandible?

Answer 27

Facial artery (branch of external carotid artery)

Question 28

Name the 3 main branches of the External Carotid Artery which supply the scalp:

Answer 28

1) Superficial Temporal artery
2) Occipital artery
3) Posterior Auricular artery

Question 29

The arteries supplying the scalp are branches of which main artery?

Answer 29

External Carotid artery

Question 30

Name the vessels which connect the loose areolar connective tissue of the scalp to the intracranial venous sinuses:

Answer 30

Emissary veins

Question 31

Which artery supplies most of the skull?

Answer 31

Middle meningeal artery

Question 32

Injury to the scalp can cause heavy bleeding. Why can this blood surround the orbit (presenting as periorbital eccymosis) but not enter the neck?

Answer 32

The frontalis muscle inserts into skin and subcutaneous tissue, so blood can move below this from the scalp to the orbit.
The occipitalis muscle inserts to the zygomatic and occipital bones, preventing blood passing into the neck.

Question 33

Name the 2 main dural venous sinuses:

Answer 33

1) Superior sagittal sinus

2) Inferior sagittal sinus

Question 34

Most of the dural venous sinues drain into which vein?

Answer 34

Internal jugular vein

Question 35

via which hole does the internal jugular vein leave the skull?

Answer 35

Jugular foramina