Anatomy + Physiology

Question 1

Which structures are connected by the Eustachian tube?

Answer 1

Middle ear + nasopharynx

Question 2

Where does arterial supply for the face come from?

Answer 2

Internal and external carotid branches

Question 3

Where does arterial supply for the neck come from?

Answer 3

External carotid and subclavian artery branches

Question 4

Where does all venous drainage from the head and neck end up?

Answer 4

Internal jugular vein

Question 5

Why can tonsillitis or pharyngitis present with earache?

Answer 5

Common sensory nerve supply –> CN IX

referred pain

Question 6

Which part of the ear is affected in conductive hearing loss?

Answer 6

External or middle ear

Question 7

Which part of the ear is affected in sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 7

Inner ear

Question 8

Which structures pass through the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 8

CN VII (facial nerve)
CN VIII (vestibulocochlear nerve)
Labyrinthine artery + veins

Question 9

If the facial nerve’s parasympathetic supply is compromised, which symptoms occur?

Answer 9

Dry eye (lacrimal gland)
Dry mucosa
Dry mouth (salivary glands)

Question 10

If the facial nerve’s special sensory supply is compromised, which symptoms occur?

Answer 10

Loss of taste to anterior 2/3rd of tongue

chorda tympani - branch of facial nerve

Question 11

When examining the ear with an otoscope, which structure is responsible for the cone of light on the tympanic membrane?

Answer 11

Tip of the handle of the malleus forms the deepest concavity of the membrane –> called the umbo

Question 12

What is the weakest + most flaccid area of the tympanic membrane?

Answer 12

Pars flaccida

Question 13

What causes the bony bulge seen in the external auditory canal?

Answer 13

TMJ

Question 14

Name the three bones in the middle ear?

Answer 14

Ossicles - malleus, incus, stapes

Question 15

Which two muscles regulate movement of the ossicles?

Answer 15

Tensor tympanic

Stapedius

Question 16

Name the structures of the inner ear and their functions

Answer 16

Cochlea - transduction of sound energy to electrical impulses
3 semicircular canals, utricle + saccule –> balance

Question 17

What are the four major openings into the nasal cavity?

Answer 17

Spheno-ethmoidal recess
Superior meatus
Middle meatus
Inferior meatus

Question 18

Which structures drain into the sphenoid-ethmoidal recess?

Answer 18

Sphenoidal air cells

Question 19

Which structures drain into the superior meatus?

Answer 19

Posterior ethmoid sinuses

Question 20

Which structures drain into the middle meatus?

Answer 20

Anterior ethmoid sinuses
Frontal sinus
Maxillary sinuses

Question 21

Which structures drain into the inferior meatus?

Answer 21

Nasolacrimal ducts

Question 22

Which major arteries supply the nasal cavity and which branches?

Answer 22

Internal carotid –> anterior + posterior ethmoidal arteries

External carotid –> facial artery + sphenopalatine artery

Question 23

Which area is most likely to bleed causing epistaxis?

Answer 23

Little’s area (Keisselbach’s area)

Question 24

Where is Little’s area?

Answer 24

Antero-inferior part of the nasal septum

Question 25

Which arteries are involved in Little’s area?

Answer 25

Anterior ethmoidal (from ophthalmic artery)
Sphenopalatine (from maxillary)
Greater palatine (from maxillary)
Superior labial (from facial)

Question 26

Which nerve supplies the muscles of mastication?

Answer 26

Trigeminal nerve

Question 27

Which nerve supplies the muscles of facial expression?

Answer 27

Facial nerve

Question 28

Which muscle narrows the mouth and closes the lips e.g. whistling?

Answer 28

Orbicularis oris

Question 29

Which muscle forms the muscular component of the cheek?

Answer 29

Buccinator

Question 30

Fascia from which muscle can be used to repair a perforated tympanic membrane (myringoplasty)?

Answer 30

Temporalis

Question 31

What is the most powerful muscle of mastication?

Answer 31

Masseter

Question 32

Which muscle of mastication is the only one attached to the TMJ?

Answer 32

Lateral pterygoid

Question 33

Which level does the common carotid bifurcate?

Answer 33

Superior border of the thyroid cartilage

Question 34

Which to receptors are located at the bifurcation of the common carotid?

Answer 34

Carotid sinus (baroreceptor)
Carotid body (chemoreceptor)

Question 35

How can the internal and external carotid arteries be distinguished from one another during surgery?

Answer 35

Internal carotid has no branches, external has many branches

–> if considering ligating the external carotid, must identify at least 2 branches first

Question 36

What are the 3 types of salivary glands?

Answer 36

Parotid
Submandibular
Sublingual

Question 37

Where does the parotid duct lie and where does the duct enter the oral cavity?

Answer 37

Anterior and inferior to the ear

–> opposite second upper molar tooth

Question 38

How would unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy appear in the tongue?

Answer 38

Deviation of tongue towards affected side with associated muscle atrophy

Question 39

What are the fascial layers of the neck?

Answer 39

Superficial layer
Deep layer (consists of 3 layers)
- investing layer (external)
- pretracheal layer (visceral)
- prevertebral layer (internal)

Question 40

Which structure is encircled by the superficial fascial layer?

Answer 40

Platysma muscle

Question 41

Which structures are within the investing layer?

Answer 41

Trapezius
Sternocleidomastoid
Parotid
Deep layer forms the carotid sheath

Question 42

Which structures are covered by the pretracheal layer?

Answer 42

Salivary glands
Muscles
Thyroid gland
Other structures in front of trachea

Question 43

Which structures are covered by the prevertebral layer?

Answer 43

Prevertebral muscles