Oral Cavity and Pharynges Flashcards
What is the function of the gingivae?
Surrounds necks of teeth and covers alveolar processes
What is the function of the hard palate?
Forms anterior 2/3 of roof of mouth separates oral cavity from nasal cavity
What is the function of the lips?
Close oral cavity during chewing
What is the function of the salivary glands?
Produce saliva
What is the function of the soft palate?
Forms posterior 1/3 of roof of mouth; helps close off opening to nasopharynx when swallowing
What is the function of the teeth?
Mastication
What is the function of the tongue?
Pushes food against palate to turn it into a bolus; detects tastes via taste buds
What is the function of the tonsils?
Detect antigens in swallowed food and drink and initiate immune response if necessary
What is the function of the vestibule?
Space where ingested materials are mixed with saliva and mechanically digested
What is the function of the uvula?
Assists soft palate in closing off entryway to nasopharynx when swallowing
What are fauces?
Opening between the oral cavity and the oropharynx
Fauces are bounded by paired muscular folds. What are they?
Anterior fold: glossopalatine arch
Posterior fold: pharyngopalatine arch
What are housed between the arches in the oral cavity?
Palatine tonsils
What is the lingual frenulum?
Thin, vertical mucous membrane on the inferior surface of the tongue that attaches it to the floor of the oral cavity
Where are lingual tonsils found?
Posterior surface of the tongue
What is the largest salivary gland?
Parotid gland
What are the 3 pairs of salivary glands?
Parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands
Which gland produces the most saliva?
Submandibular gland
Where are the parotid glands located?
Anterior and inferior to the ear, partially overlaying the masseter muscle
Where does the parotid gland open into?
Oral vestibule next to the 2nd upper molar
Where are the submandibular glands located? Where does their duct open to?
Inferior to body of mandible; ducts open through a papilla in the floor of the mouth on the lateral sides of the lingual frenulum
Where are the sublingual glands located? Where does their duct open to?
Inferior to the tongue and internal to the oral cavity mucosa; multiple tiny ducts open onto inferior surface of the oral cavity, posterior to the submandibular duct papilla
What are the components of a tooth?
Exposed crown, constricted neck, and one or more roots to anchor it to the jaw
What makes up the gomphosis joint of the teeth?
Roots, dental alveoli, and periodontal ligament
In an infant, how many teeth do we have? What are they called? Adult?
Infant: 20 teeth; deciduous or milk teeth
Adult: 32 teeth, but wisdom teeth are typically removed
What nerve do you block when doing work on the bottom teeth?
Inferior alveolar nerve
What nerve would you block to block the infraorbital?
Superior alveolar nerve
What are the 3 phases of swallowing? Explain them
Voluntary Phase (voluntary) : bolus of food is pushed by tongue against hard palate and then moves toward oropharynx
Pharyngeal Phase (involuntary): as bolus moves into oropharynx, the soft palate closes off nasopharynx and the epiglottis closes over laryngeal opening
Esophageal Phase (involuntary): esophageal muscle contractions push bolus toward stomach; soft palate and epiglottis return to their pre-swallowing positions
What nerve innervates the tensor veli palatini?
V3 (mandibular branch of trigeminal)
What nerve innervates the levator veli palatini?
X, pharyngeal plexus
What is the function of the tensor veli palatini?
Tenses soft palate and acts on pharyngotympanic tube for depressurizing middle ear
What is the function of the levator veli palatini?
Elevates tensed palate and acts on pharyngotympanic tube
What muscle is found directly anterior to the superior constrictor?
Buccinator
What does paralysis of either or both the tensor and levator veli palatini muscles cause?
Reflux of oral contents into nasal cavity and pharyngotympanic tube dysfunction
What is Waldeyer’s lymphatic ring composed of? Where does this drain to?
Palatine, pharyngeal, and lingual tonsils; drains to deep cervical lymph nodes
What is the function of the pharyngeal plexus as far as sensation goes?
Sensory innervation of the oropharynx and laryngopharynx from CN IX and CN X, respectively
What is the nasopharynx above the pharyngotympanic tube and the torus tubarius innervated by?
V2 (maxillary branch of trigeminal)
