Basic Topography of the Upper Respiratory Tract: Nasal cavity, Paranasal Sinuses and Pharynx (AP) Flashcards
What tissue lines the nasal cavity?
Ciliated pseudostratified epithelium (respiratory epithelium)
What are the 3 divisions of the pharynx (superior to inferior)?
- Nasopharynx
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
What epithelium lines the pharynx?
Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
Which bones form the floor of the nasal cavity?
- Palatine process of maxilla
- Horizontal process of palatine bone
Which bones form the roof of the nasal cavity?
- Frontal bone
- Nasal bone
- Ethmoid bone (containing cribriform plate)
- Sphenoid bone
Which bones form the medial wall of the nasal cavity?
- Perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone
- Vomer
Which bones form the lateral wall of the nasal cavity?
- Nasal bone
- Ethmoid bone (forming 2 conchae)
- Pterygoid plate of sphenoid bone
- Vertical process of palatine bone
3 conchae of the nasal cavity
- Superior concha
- Middle concha
- Inferior concha
What spaces are found above/below each concha?
- Spheno-ethmoidal recess = above superior
- Superior meatus = below superior
- Middle meatus = below middle
- Inferior meatus = below inferior
Function of the conchae
Moisten and warm air as it passes through nasal cavity
Function of the paranasal sinuses and what this is for
- Produce mucus to drain into nasal cavity
- Moistens air
- Traps pathogens
Arteries supplying the nasal cavity
- Anterior + posterior ethmoidal arteries
- Sphenopalatine artery
- Greater palatine artery
- Superior labial artery
- Lateral nasal artery
Origins of the anterior + posterior ethmoidal arteries
Internal carotid artery –> Ophthalmic artery –> Anterior + posterior ethmoidal arteries
Origins of the sphenopalatine artery
External carotid artery –> Maxillary artery –> Sphenopalatine artery
Origins of the greater palatine artery
External carotid artery –> Maxillary artery –> Greater palatine artery
Origins of the superior labial artery
External carotid artery –> Facial artery –> Superior labial artery
Origins of the lateral nasal artery
External carotid artery –> Facial artery –> Lateral nasal artery
Which nerve supplies cutaneous sensation to the nasal cavity?
Trigeminal nerve (CNV)
Which branches of the trigeminal nerve are responsible for which portions of the nasal cavity?
- Ophthalmic division (CNV1) = anterior + superior part
- Maxillary division (CNV2) = posterior + inferior part
What is the bulla ethmoidalis?
- Largest ethmoidal air cell
- Bulges into middle meatus
What is hiatus semilunaris?
Crescent-shaped groove in lateral wall of nasal cavity just inferior to bulla ethmoidalis
Where do the frontal sinuses drain?
Middle meatus (via hiatus semilunaris)
Where do the maxillary sinuses drain?
Middle meatus (via hiatus semilunaris)
Where do the sphenoidal sinuses drain?
Spheno-ethmoidal recess
Where do the anterior ethmoidal air cells drain?
Middle meatus
Where do the middle ethmoidal air cells drain?
Middle meatus
Where do the posterior ethmoidal air cells drain?
Superior meatus
Where does the nasolacrimal duct drain?
Inferior meatus
Which tonsils are located in the nasopharynx?
- Pharyngeal tonsil
- Tubal tonsils
What connects the nasopharynx to the middle ear?
Pharyngotympanic tube
Which muscles open the pharyngotympanic tube?
- Tensor veli palatini
- Levator veli palatini
Function of pharyngotympanic tube
- Allow for pressure in ear to be equalised
- Drain gunk from middle ears
What are the openings between the nasal cavity and nasopharynx?
Choanae (sing. choana)
What is the opening between the oral cavity and oropharynx?
Oropharyngeal isthmus
What is the opening between the larynx and laryngopharynx?
Laryngeal inlet
3 muscles of the constrictor group of the pharynx?
- Superior constrictor
- Middle constrictor
- Inferior constrictor
Attachments of the superior constrictor (anterior + posterior)
- A = pterygoid hamulus, pterygomandibular raphe, mandible, side of tongue
- P = pharyngeal tubercle, pharyngeal raphe
Attachments of the middle constrictor (anterior + posterior)
- A = stylohyoid ligament, greater + lessor horns of hyoid bone
- P = pharyngeal raphe
Attachments of the inferior constrictor (anterior + posterior)
- A = oblique line of thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage
- P = pharyngeal raphe
Which nerve innervates the constrictor muscles of the pharynx?
Vagus nerve (through pharyngeal plexus)
3 muscles of the longitudinal group of the pharynx?
- Salpingopharyngeus
- Stylopharyngeus
- Palatopharyngeus
Attachments of salpingopharyngeus
From cartilaginous ending of pharyngotympanic tube to unite with palatopharyngeus
Attachments of stylopharyngeus
From styloid process to thyroid cartilage
Attachments of palatopharyngeus
From hard palate and palatine aponeurosis to thyroid cartilage and oesophagus
Innervation of the 3 longitudinal muscles of the pharynx
- Salpingo = vagus nerve (through pharyngeal plexus)
- Stylo = glossopharyngeal nerve
- Palato = vagus nerve (through pharyngeal plexus)
