Palate and Glands

Question 1

name the 5 muscles of the palate and what they are innervated by

Answer 1

1. tensor veli palatini - a pterygoid branch of V3
2. levator veli palatini - CN X - pterygoid plexus
3. musculus uvulae - CN X - pterygoid plexus
4. palatopharyngeus - CN X - pterygoid plexus
5. palatoglossus - CN X - pterygoid plexus

Question 2

name the 5 arteries that supply the palate and what they are branches of

Answer 2

1. sphenopalatine a. - 3rd part of maxillary a.
2. greater palatine a. - 3rd part of maxillary a.
3. lesser palatine a. - 3rd part of maxillary a.
4. ascending palatine a. - branch of facial a.
5. ascending pharyngeal a. - branch of ECA

Question 3

the ascending palatine and ascending pharyngeal aa. supply what?

Answer 3

soft palate

Question 4

what opening does the sphenopalatine a. go through?

Answer 4

incisive foramen

Question 5

what opening does the greater palatine a. go through?

Answer 5

greater palatine foramen

Question 6

what opening does the lesser palatine a. go through?

Answer 6

lesser palatine foramen

Question 7

what 2 bones form the palate?

Answer 7

maxilla and palatine

Question 8

what nerves supply these areas?

Answer 8

**because this is sensory, it is actually the long buccal nerve.

the buccal n. (branch of VII) provides motor innervation of the buccinator

Question 9

describe the sublingual gland

Answer 9

• beneath tongue, medial to mandible, superior to mylohyoid
• bartholin duct drains into floor of mouth via sublingual caruncle
• innervation: VII, chorda tympani via V3 lingual n.
• vascular supply: sublingual a., branch of lingual a.
• produces 5% saliva, mixed, but mostly mucus

Question 10

describe the submandibular gland

Answer 10

• below masseter, medial to mandible
• warhtin’s duct drains into floor of mouth via sublingual caruncle
• innervation: VII, chorda tympani via V3 lingual n.
• vascular supply: facial a.
• produces 70% of saliva, mixed mucous and serous, amalase

Question 11

describe the parotid gland

Answer 11

• located anterior/inferior to the ear
• stensen’s duct drains into rear/upper cheek area
• innervation: CN IX, lesser petrosal n. via V3 auriculotemporal n.
• vascular supply: transverse facial branches of superficial temporal a., ECV
• produces 10-20% of saliva, amalase, breakdown of starch, serous

Question 12

describe clinical significance of glands of the head

Answer 12

• Parotid – Poor inferior alveolar blocks – bells palsy, temporary
• Stones (Sialoliths) – blocked ducts, pain, swelling
• Bacterial infection (Sialadenitis) – blocked duct, pain, swelling, foul pus in mouth
• Viral infection – mumps, flu, Epstein-Barr, HIV; bilateral
• Sjogren’s syndrome – autoimmune – dry mouth and eyes