Oral Cavity And Pharynx

Question 1

What anatomical landmark forms the inferior border of the oral cavity?

Answer 1

Palatoglossal arch

Question 2

Name the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue and their innervations.

Answer 2

Genioglossus,
Hyoglossus,
Styloglossus - all Hypoglossal nerve.
Palatoglossus- vagus nerve.

Question 3

How many intrinsic muscles of the tongue are there?

What nerve innervates them?

Answer 3

4 paired muscles.

Innervated by Hypoglossal nerve.

Question 4

What nerves supply general sensation and taste to the tongue?

Answer 4

Anterior 2/3 - taste via facial nerve and sensation via trigeminal.
Posterior 1/3 - both via Glossopharyngeal nerve.

Question 5

What ducts attach to the submandibular salivary glands?

Where do they empty?

Answer 5

Wharton’s duct,

Empty below the tongue.

Question 6

Which ducts attach to the parotid glands?

Where do they empty?

Answer 6

Stensen ducts,

Empty on medial aspect of the cheek near the molars.

Question 7

Which salivary ducts are likely to become occluded by stones (sialolithiasis)?

Answer 7

Submandibular salivary glands (due to high calcium concentrations),
Parotid glands due to long ducts.

Question 8

What symptoms are seen in Sialolithiasis?

How are they imaged?

Answer 8

Pain in glands brought in by food, swelling and signs of infection.
Imaged via X ray or sialogram.

Question 9

How does tonsillitis typically present?

What are the common causes?

Answer 9

Fever,
Sore throat,
Difficulty swallowing,
Often caused via viruses,
Bacterial causes predominantly streptococcus pyogenes.

Question 10

How do peritonsillar abscesses present?

Answer 10

Severe throat pain,
Fever,
Drooling,
Difficulty opening mouth.
Deviation of the uvula (important as this is not seen in tonsillitis).

Question 11

What are the boundaries of the nasopharynx?

Answer 11

Nasal cavity to C1, C2 spinal vertebrae.

Base of skull to upper border of the soft palate.

Question 12

What may result due to a swollen pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid)?

Answer 12

Blockage of the Eustachian tube resulting in ear infections,
Snoring + sleep apnoea,
Chronic sinusitis,
Sore throat.

Question 13

What are the boundaries of the oropharynx?

Answer 13

Soft palate to epiglottis,

Oral cavity to C2, C3 spinal vertebrae.

Question 14

Which arches do the palatine tonsils sit between?

Answer 14

Palatoglossal arch (more lateral) and palatopharyngeal arch (more medial)

Question 15

What are the borders of the laryngopharynx?

Answer 15

End of Oropharynx to oesophagus,
Epiglottis to cricoid cartilage,
C4,5,6 vertebrae.

Question 16

What are the piriform fossae?

Answer 16

Depressions within the laryngopharynx that guide liquids and food to help prevent aspiration.

Question 17

What are the names of the three longitudinal muscles that elevate the pharynx and larynx during swallowing?

Answer 17

Stylopharyngeus (CNX),
Palatopharyngeus (CNX),
Salpingopharyngeus (CNIX).

Question 18

What is the role of the three pharyngeal constrictors?

What nerve innervates them?

Answer 18

Peristaltic activity forcing bolus into the oesophagus.
Vagus nerve (CNX).

Question 19

What is a pharyngeal pouch?

Answer 19

A false posteriomedial diverticulum caused by high pressure in the laryngopharynx overcoming constrictor muscles and forming an outpouching.
Presents with regurgitation of food,
Difficulty swallowing,
Choking on fluids.

Question 20

What nerves supply general sensation to the Nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx respectively?

Answer 20

Nasopharynx - Maxillary nerve (Vb),
Oropharynx- Glossopharyngeal nerve CN IX,
Laryngopharynx- Vagus nerve CNX.

Question 21

What are the main points of the Oral phase of swallowing?

Answer 21

Voluntary control,

Bolus is pushed against the palate and pushed into oropharynx.

Question 22

What are the main points of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing?

Answer 22

Soft palate elevation,
Closure of epiglottis,
Longitudinal muscles contract,
Larynx elevates.
UOS relaxes.

Question 23

What occurs in the oesophageal phase of swallowing?

Answer 23

Rapid peristalsis guides bolus into the stomach. LOS opens.

Question 24

What are the signs of dysphagia?

Answer 24

Coughing and choking,
Sialorrhoea (drooling),
Nasal regurgitation.