Basic ENT Anatomy

Question 1

What structures of the neck have an endocrine function?

Answer 1

The thyroid and parathyroids

Question 2

What are the respiratory functions of the ENT system?

Answer 2

Patency of airway, filters air, humidifies air, controls movement of air, warms air

Question 3

What are the digestive and protective functions of the ENT system?

Answer 3

GI = mastication, deglutition, digestion, lubrication
Protective = filters air, antimicrobial properties, reflexes, regurgitation

Question 4

What are the special sensory functions of the ENT system?

Answer 4

Smell (nose), taste (mouth), hearing and balance (ear)

Question 5

What bone is the ear associated with?

Answer 5

The temporal bone

Question 6

What connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx?

Answer 6

Eustachian tube

Question 7

What is the function of the external ear?

Answer 7

Collects soundwaves and directs them towards the middle ear

Question 8

What is the function of the middle ear?

Answer 8

Conducts and amplifies vibrations towards the inner ear

Question 9

What is the function of the inner ear?

Answer 9

Converts vibrations or movement of fluid into action potentials

Question 10

What system does the nose belong?

Answer 10

Respiratory

Question 11

What is the nose divided into?

Answer 11

Two bilateral nasal cavities

Question 12

What is the nose connected to?

Answer 12

Paranasal sinuses, orbit and nasopharynx posteriorly

Question 13

What are some functions of the throat?

Answer 13

Respiratory, digestive and protective

Question 14

Where does the throat begin?

Answer 14

Starts in head and continues inferiorly within the neck towards the thorax

Question 15

What are some important interconnected areas in the throat?

Answer 15

Pharynx and oesophagus, larynx and trachea

Question 16

What are some closely related structures in the throat?

Answer 16

Blood vessels and nerves, palate and oral cavity, thyroid and parathyroid glands, skull base and cervical spine

Question 17

How is the deep neck fascia arranged?

Answer 17

Ina tubular fashion

Question 18

What do the compartments of the throat provide?

Answer 18

Route for the migration of pathologies

Question 19

What vessels supply the cranial cavity?

Answer 19

Internal carotid artery and vertebral artery

Question 20

Branches of which arteries supply the face?

Answer 20

Internal and external carotid arteries

Question 21

What vessels supply the neck?

Answer 21

External carotid artery and subclavian artery branches

Question 22

What is the mnemonic to remember the branches of the external carotid artery (from proximal to distal)?

Answer 22

Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students

Question 23

What are the branches of the external carotid artery, from proximal to distal?

Answer 23

Superior thyroid artery, Ascending pharyngeal artery, Lingual artery, Facial artery, Occipital artery, Posterior auricular artery, Maxillary artery, Superficial temporal artery

Question 24

Where do the arteries that supply the head and neck tend to form anastomoses?

Answer 24

Ipsilaterally and contralaterally

Question 25

What courses along the peri-arterial plexus?

Answer 25

Post synaptic sympathetic nerve fibres

Question 26

What does venous drainage tend to follow?

Answer 26

Mimics arterial distribution

Question 27

Where do all of the veins that drain the head and neck ultimately drain into?

Answer 27

The internal jugular vein

Question 28

What are some veins that drain the head and neck?

Answer 28

External jugular vein, facial vein, cavernous sinus (middle cranial fossa), pterygoid venous plexus (infratemporal fossa)

Question 29

Where is the danger triangle of the face?

Answer 29

Between the eyebrows to either side of the mouth?

Question 30

What is the concern with the danger triangle of the face?

Answer 30

Veins can potentially carry superficial infections to deeper areas of the head and neck

Question 31

What are the cranial nerves relevant to the head and neck?

Answer 31

CN 1 = olfactory CN 5 = trigeminal CN 7 = facial CN 8 = vestibulocochlear CN 9 = glossopharyngeal CN 10 = vagus CN 12 = hypoglossal

Question 32

What are the only cranial nerves that give rise to pre-ganglionic parasympathetic axons?

Answer 32

CN 3 = oculomotor CN 7 = facial | CN 9 = glossopharyngeal CN 10 = vagus

Question 33

What are the four bilateral parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck?

Answer 33

``` Ciliary ganglion (from CN 3) Pterygopalatine ganglion (from CN 7) Submandibular ganglion (from CN 7) Otic ganglion (from CN 9) ```

Question 34

What is the parasympathetic outflow?

Answer 34

Craniosacral

Question 35

What are the parasympathetic neurons structures like?

Answer 35

Long preganglionic neuron, short postganglionic neuron

Question 36

How are sympathetic neurons structured?

Answer 36

Long postganglionic neuron, short preganglionic neuron

Question 37

What is the sympathetic flow in the head and neck?

Answer 37

Peri-arterial plexus > superior cervical ganglion > cervical sympathetic chain

Question 38

What nerves provide general somatic sensory innervation to the head and neck

Answer 38

CN 5 (divisions 1-3), CN 9 and CN 10 = pain, touch, temperature and proprioception signals

Question 39

What cranial nerves are responsible for taste and smell

Answer 39

Cranial nerves 1 and 2 (olfactory and optic)

Question 40

What cranial nerves are responsible for taste?

Answer 40

Cranial nerves 7, 9 and a bit of 10

Question 41

What cranial nerve is responsible for hearing and balance?

Answer 41

Vestibulocochlear (CN 8)

Question 42

What are the sensory ganglia of the head and neck?

Answer 42

Trigeminal ganglion (CN 5) Geniculate ganglion (CN 7) Spiral and vestibular ganglion (CN 9) Superior and inferior glossopharyngeal ganglia (CN 9) Superior and inferior vagal ganglia (CN 10)

Question 43

How many neurons are in a sensory chain?

Answer 43

Made up of three neurons = first, second and third order

Question 44

Where do the first and second order sensory neurons synapse?

Answer 44

At the spinal cord or brainstem

Question 45

Where do the second and third order sensory neurons synapse?

Answer 45

Thalamus

Question 46

What does lymphatic drainage tend to follow?

Answer 46

Venous drainage

Question 47

How is the lymphatic drainage of the head and neck divided?

Answer 47

Into areas that drain into the right lymphatic duct or the thoracic duct (left side) at their respective venous angles

Question 48

How does the lymphatic drainage of midline structures (i.e tongue) work?

Answer 48

Can drain bilaterally

Question 49

What does the Jugulo-digastric node drain lymphatic from?

Answer 49

Drains the palatine tonsil

Question 50

What are some lymph node groups of the head and neck?

Answer 50

Parotid (pre-auricular), mastoid (post-auricular), deep cervical nodes, superficial cervical nodes

Question 51

What vessel are the deep cervical nodes located along?

Answer 51

The internal jugular vein

Question 52

What vessel are the superficial cervical nodes located along?

Answer 52

The external jugular vein

Question 53

Where does all arterial supply to the head and neck originate from?

Answer 53

Either the common carotid artery or the subclavian artery

Question 54

What is the definition of a ganglion?

Answer 54

Collection of cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

Question 55

What do ganglions contain in the motor region?

Answer 55

A synapse = sensory ganglia don’t have synapses

Question 56

What kind of innervation do the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems provide?

Answer 56

Motor = do not provide any sensory innervation