Palate and Pharynx

Question 1

Key bony landmarks on the base of the skull

Answer 1

Pharyngeal tubercle

	Pterygoid plates – Medial and lateral

		Hamulus

	Palatine bones

	Styloid process

Question 2

Bones foramina and canals of the hard palate

Answer 2

Two Maxillary bones (palatal processes)
		Two palatine bones
		Three foramina and canals
			1. Incisive
			2. Greater palatine
			3. Lesser palatine

Question 3

Levator veli palatini

Answer 3

Attachments: Base of auditory tube to palatal aponeurosis
Action: Elevate palate
N: CN X

Question 4

Tensor Veli Palatini

Answer 4

Attachments: lateral aspect of auditory tube and scaphoid and pterygoid fossa, around hamulus to palatal aponeurosis
Action: tenses palate and opens auditory tube
N: CN V3

Question 5

Palatopharyngeus

Answer 5

Attachments: palatal aponeurosis to lateral wall of pharynx
Action: Depresses palate and elevate pharynx
N: CN X

Question 6

Palatoglossus

Answer 6

Attachments: Palatal aponeurosis to dorsum and lateral aspect of tongue
Acction: depresses palate, raises tongue
N: CN X

Question 7

Musculus uvulae

Answer 7

bilateral muscle
Attachments: Posterior nasal spine to both sides of the soft palate
Action: raises uvula
N: CN X

Question 8

Innervation of the muscles of the palate

Answer 8

All muscles of the soft palate are innervated by the Vagus nerve, CN X, EXCEPT the tensor veli palatini
(CN V3)

Question 9

(Innervation of the palate) General sensory

Answer 9

GENERAL SENSORY – CN V2
Midline to canines – Nasopalatine

Canines to soft palate – greater palatine

Soft palate – Lesser palatine

Question 10

Autonomic innervation of the palate. Sympathetic pathway.

Answer 10

Sympathetic –
Preganglionic fibers originate T1 – L2  enter chain  ascend chain to superior cervical ganglia  synapse  postganglionic fibers hitchhike on the internal carotid  deep petrosal nerve (sympathetic) joins greater petrosal nerve to form the nerve of pterygoid canal  pterygopalatine fossa  pass through pterygopalatine ganglion  jump onto greater and lesser palatine and nasopalatine nerves to get to the palate

Question 11

Autonomic innervation of the palate. Parasympathetic pathway.

Answer 11

Preganglionic cell bodies in Superior Salivatory Nucleus (pons)  internal acoustic meatus  facial canal  greater petrosal nerve branches in the facial canal greater petrosal nerve is joined by deep petrosal nerve (sympathetic) to form nerve of the pterygoid canal  pterygopalatine fossa  Pre-ganglionic fibers synapse in pterygopalatine ganglion  postganglionic fibers jump onto greater palatine, lesser palatine and nasopalatine nerves to get to palate

Question 12

Three constrictors of the Pharynx

Answer 12

Superior- Middle Hyoid.
Middle- Inferior Thyroid
Inferior- Superior Pterygomandibular raphe

Question 13

Landmark attachments of the Pharynx

Answer 13

Pharyngeal tubercle, Median pharyngeal raphae, pterygomandibular raphae.

Question 14

Superior pharyngeal constrictor. attachments and innervation

Answer 14

Attachments: pterygoid hamulus and pterygomandibular raphae to mandible then attaches at pharyngeal tubercle and
median raphae
N: CN X

Question 15

Middle Constrictor. attachments and innervation

Answer 15

Attachments: hyoid bone to median raphae

N: CN X

Question 16

Inferior constrictor. Attachments and innervation.

Answer 16

Attachments: thyroid and cricoid cartilages to median raphae
N: CN X

Question 17

Palatopharyngeus. attachment, action, innervation.

Answer 17

Attachments: palatal aponeurosis to lateral wall of pharynx
Action: Depresses palate and elevate pharynx
N: CN X

Question 18

Stylopharyngeus. attachments and innervation

Answer 18

Attachments: styloid process to lateral wall of pharynx, thyroid
cartilage and cricoid cartilage
N: CN IX

Question 19

Salpingopharyngeus. attachments and innervation

Answer 19

Attachments: auditory tube to pharynx

N: CN X

Question 20

structures that enter the pharynx and are above the superior constrictor (gap 1)

Answer 20

Levator veli palatini muscle
Ascending palatine branch of facial artery
Auditory tube

Question 21

structures that enter the pharynx and are between the superior and middle (gap 2):

Answer 21

Stylopharyngeus muscle
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Stylohyoid ligament

Question 22

Structures that enter the pharynx and are between middle and inferior (gap 3)

Answer 22

Internal laryngeal nerve of X

Superior laryngeal branch of superior thyroid artery

Question 23

Structures that enter the pharynx and are below inferior constrictor(gap 4)

Answer 23

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Inferior laryngeal branch of inferior thyroid artery

Question 24

pharynx topical landmarks

Answer 24

Nasopharynx:
	Mouth of auditory tube.
	Salpingopharyngeal fold
	Pharyngeal recess
	Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)

Oropharynx:
Palatoglossal arch
Palatopharyngeal arch
Palatine tonsil

Laraygopharynx
Epiglottis

Question 25

Layers of the pharynx from internal to external

Answer 25

1. Mucous membrane
2. Submucosa

 3.  Fibrous pharyngobasilar fascia
					Attached to skull
 4.  Muscular Layer

5.  Buccopharyngeal fascia
						Contains plexus