Mouth and throat

Question 1

Uvula

Answer 1

• Free projection hanging down from the middle of the soft palate.
  *

Question 2

Palatine Tonsils

Answer 2

: Located in the oropharynx, part of the immune system.

Question 3

• Papillae

Answer 3

: Rough, bumpy elevations on the tongue’s dorsal surface.

Question 4

• Submandibular Gland and Wharton’s Duct

Answer 4

Salivary
o Submandibular gland lies beneath the mandible; ducts open on either side of the frenulum.
o Sublingual gland has multiple small openings along the sublingual fold.

Question 5

• Hard and Soft Palate:

Answer 5

o Hard palate: Anterior, bony, and whitish.
o Soft palate: Posterior, pink, and muscular.

Question 6

• Posterior Pharyngeal Wall

Answer 6

Visible at the back of the throat.

Question 7

• Mouth:

Answer 7

o Sensory: Taste and touch.
o Digestive: Chewing and swallowing.
o Respiratory: Alternate airway pathway.
o Communication: Verbal and emotional expression.

Question 8

• Throat:

Answer 8

o Digestive: Passage for food and liquids.
o Respiratory: Connection to the airway.
o Immune: Tonsils act as immune barriers.
o Communication: Larynx and vocal cords aid speech.

Question 9

epiglottis

Answer 9

o epiglottis Protects airway by preventing food or liquid from entering lungs.
o Dysfunction may cause aspiration or airway obstruction.

Question 10

General Considerations

Answer 10

• Cultural Humility:
  o Reflect on systemic biases in “normal” findings and address gaps in medical education.
• Converging Systems:
  o Mouth and throat interact with sensory, immune, respiratory, digestive, and communication systems.
  o Dysfunctions in one system can affect others.

Question 11

Assessment Techniques

Answer 11

• Nose and Sinuses:
  o Inspect for redness, swelling, and discharge.
  o Palpate sinuses for tenderness.
• Mouth:
  o Visualize teeth, gums, tongue, and mucous membranes for lesions or inflammation.
  o Assess oral moisture and texture.
• Throat:
  o Inspect tonsils, uvula, and pharynx for redness, swelling, or occlusion.
  o Palpate neck for lymph nodes and thyroid abnormalities.
  o Evaluate swallowing for signs of pain, aspiration, or inflammation.

Question 12

Clinical Considerations

Answer 12

• Tonsils:
  o Assess size, redness, and occlusion of the throat.
  o Chronic inflammation may cause swallowing or breathing issues.
  o Pediatric tonsil inflammation often more severe due to smaller throat size.
• Social Determinants of Health:
  o Indigenous and remote communities face limited access to dental care.
  o Economic barriers affect access to oral care for low-income, immigrant, and disabled individuals.
  o Cultural factors influence oral health perceptions and practices.
• Oral Piercings:
  o Risks: Infection, abnormal tooth wear, periodontal disease, and tooth loss.
  o Most common in the tongue and nose.

Question 13

Key Conditions

Answer 13

• Cleft Lip/Palate:
  o Higher prevalence among Indigenous populations.
  o Torus palatinus common in Indigenous and Asian populations.
• Leukoedema:
  o Grayish-white lesion in buccal mucosa, more common in people of African descent.
• Dental Caries:
  o High prevalence in Indigenous and immigrant populations, linked to diet and lack of fluoridated water.
• Edentulism:
  o Toothlessness higher in Indigenous and lower-income populations.
• Oral Cancer Risk:
  o Piercings increase susceptibility to infections and trauma.

Question 14

Health Promotion

Answer 14

• Encourage oral hygiene and preventive dental care.
• Address barriers like cost, cultural perceptions, and access to care.
• Promote breastfeeding to prevent dental issues in children.
• Avoid bottle-feeding in supine positions to reduce risk of caries.