Basic Topography of the Upper Respiratory Tract: Nasal cavity, Paranasal Sinuses and Pharynx (AP)

Question 1

What tissue lines the nasal cavity?

Answer 1

Ciliated pseudostratified epithelium (respiratory epithelium)

Question 2

What are the 3 divisions of the pharynx (superior to inferior)?

Answer 2

• Nasopharynx
• Oropharynx
• Laryngopharynx

Question 3

What epithelium lines the pharynx?

Answer 3

Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium

Question 4

Which bones form the floor of the nasal cavity?

Answer 4

• Palatine process of maxilla
• Horizontal process of palatine bone

Question 5

Which bones form the roof of the nasal cavity?

Answer 5

• Frontal bone
• Nasal bone
• Ethmoid bone (containing cribriform plate)
• Sphenoid bone

Question 6

Which bones form the medial wall of the nasal cavity?

Answer 6

• Perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone
• Vomer

Question 7

Which bones form the lateral wall of the nasal cavity?

Answer 7

• Nasal bone
• Ethmoid bone (forming 2 conchae)
• Pterygoid plate of sphenoid bone
• Vertical process of palatine bone

Question 8

3 conchae of the nasal cavity

Answer 8

• Superior concha
• Middle concha
• Inferior concha

Question 9

What spaces are found above/below each concha?

Answer 9

• Spheno-ethmoidal recess = above superior
• Superior meatus = below superior
• Middle meatus = below middle
• Inferior meatus = below inferior

Question 10

Function of the conchae

Answer 10

Moisten and warm air as it passes through nasal cavity

Question 11

Function of the paranasal sinuses and what this is for

Answer 11

• Produce mucus to drain into nasal cavity
• Moistens air
• Traps pathogens

Question 12

Arteries supplying the nasal cavity

Answer 12

• Anterior + posterior ethmoidal arteries
• Sphenopalatine artery
• Greater palatine artery
• Superior labial artery
• Lateral nasal artery

Question 13

Origins of the anterior + posterior ethmoidal arteries

Answer 13

Internal carotid artery –> Ophthalmic artery –> Anterior + posterior ethmoidal arteries

Question 14

Origins of the sphenopalatine artery

Answer 14

External carotid artery –> Maxillary artery –> Sphenopalatine artery

Question 15

Origins of the greater palatine artery

Answer 15

External carotid artery –> Maxillary artery –> Greater palatine artery

Question 16

Origins of the superior labial artery

Answer 16

External carotid artery –> Facial artery –> Superior labial artery

Question 17

Origins of the lateral nasal artery

Answer 17

External carotid artery –> Facial artery –> Lateral nasal artery

Question 18

Which nerve supplies cutaneous sensation to the nasal cavity?

Answer 18

Trigeminal nerve (CNV)

Question 19

Which branches of the trigeminal nerve are responsible for which portions of the nasal cavity?

Answer 19

• Ophthalmic division (CNV1) = anterior + superior part
• Maxillary division (CNV2) = posterior + inferior part

Question 20

What is the bulla ethmoidalis?

Answer 20

• Largest ethmoidal air cell
• Bulges into middle meatus

Question 21

What is hiatus semilunaris?

Answer 21

Crescent-shaped groove in lateral wall of nasal cavity just inferior to bulla ethmoidalis

Question 22

Where do the frontal sinuses drain?

Answer 22

Middle meatus (via hiatus semilunaris)

Question 23

Where do the maxillary sinuses drain?

Answer 23

Middle meatus (via hiatus semilunaris)

Question 24

Where do the sphenoidal sinuses drain?

Answer 24

Spheno-ethmoidal recess

Question 25

Where do the anterior ethmoidal air cells drain?

Answer 25

Middle meatus

Question 26

Where do the middle ethmoidal air cells drain?

Answer 26

Middle meatus

Question 27

Where do the posterior ethmoidal air cells drain?

Answer 27

Superior meatus

Question 28

Where does the nasolacrimal duct drain?

Answer 28

Inferior meatus

Question 29

Which tonsils are located in the nasopharynx?

Answer 29

• Pharyngeal tonsil
• Tubal tonsils

Question 30

What connects the nasopharynx to the middle ear?

Answer 30

Pharyngotympanic tube

Question 31

Which muscles open the pharyngotympanic tube?

Answer 31

• Tensor veli palatini
• Levator veli palatini

Question 32

Function of pharyngotympanic tube

Answer 32

• Allow for pressure in ear to be equalised
• Drain gunk from middle ears

Question 33

What are the openings between the nasal cavity and nasopharynx?

Answer 33

Choanae (sing. choana)

Question 34

What is the opening between the oral cavity and oropharynx?

Answer 34

Oropharyngeal isthmus

Question 35

What is the opening between the larynx and laryngopharynx?

Answer 35

Laryngeal inlet

Question 36

3 muscles of the constrictor group of the pharynx?

Answer 36

• Superior constrictor
• Middle constrictor
• Inferior constrictor

Question 37

Attachments of the superior constrictor (anterior + posterior)

Answer 37

• A = pterygoid hamulus, pterygomandibular raphe, mandible, side of tongue
• P = pharyngeal tubercle, pharyngeal raphe

Question 38

Attachments of the middle constrictor (anterior + posterior)

Answer 38

• A = stylohyoid ligament, greater + lessor horns of hyoid bone
• P = pharyngeal raphe

Question 39

Attachments of the inferior constrictor (anterior + posterior)

Answer 39

• A = oblique line of thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage
• P = pharyngeal raphe

Question 40

Which nerve innervates the constrictor muscles of the pharynx?

Answer 40

Vagus nerve (through pharyngeal plexus)

Question 41

3 muscles of the longitudinal group of the pharynx?

Answer 41

• Salpingopharyngeus
• Stylopharyngeus
• Palatopharyngeus

Question 42

Attachments of salpingopharyngeus

Answer 42

From cartilaginous ending of pharyngotympanic tube to unite with palatopharyngeus

Question 43

Attachments of stylopharyngeus

Answer 43

From styloid process to thyroid cartilage

Question 44

Attachments of palatopharyngeus

Answer 44

From hard palate and palatine aponeurosis to thyroid cartilage and oesophagus

Question 45

Innervation of the 3 longitudinal muscles of the pharynx

Answer 45

• Salpingo = vagus nerve (through pharyngeal plexus)
• Stylo = glossopharyngeal nerve
• Palato = vagus nerve (through pharyngeal plexus)