Palate and Pharynx

Question 1

describe the 3 divisions of the pharynx

Answer 1

nasopharynx, lined with respiratory epithelium (ciliated columnar), from posterior border of nasal septum to soft palate
oropharynx, lined with digestive epithelium (stratified columnar), from soft palate to epiglottis
laryngopahrynx, from epiglottis to esophagus (inferior border of cricoid cartilage)

Question 2

what is the name of the auditory tube in nasopharynx?

Answer 2

pharyngotympanic tube

Question 3

where are the tubal tonsils located and what is their function?

Answer 3

tubal tonsils are found in nasopharynx in submucosa
function is to protect airway from infection

Question 4

what is the pharyngeal recess?

Answer 4

found in nasopharynx- a slit-like projection extending laterally and posteriorly (an area where you can get malignancies)

Question 5

what is the salpingopharyngeal fold?

Answer 5

a vertical fold f mucous membrane in the nasopharynx, covering salpingopharyngeus muscle
opens the pharyngeal orifice of pharyngotympanic tube during swallowing

Question 6

what is the tonsillar fossa?

Answer 6

found in the oropharynx, where tonsils sit

Question 7

what is the epiglottis?

Answer 7

epiglottis is a leaf shaped piece of elastic cartilage, covered in mucosa, closes off larynx during swallowing so airway isn’t compromised with food during swallowing

Question 8

what is vallecula?

Answer 8

recess between posterior end of tongue and epiglottis- where small fish bones can get stuck

Question 9

what is the function of laryngeal inlet?

Answer 9

laryngeal inlet allows for communication between larynx and laryngopharynx (on anterior wall)

Question 10

what is piriform recess?

Answer 10

small depression on either side of laryngeal inlet (in laryngopharynx), mucosa lined, separated from laryngeal inlet by aryepiglottic fold

Question 11

branches of which nerve lie deep to mucous membrane of piriform fossa?

Answer 11

branches of internal laryngeal and recurrent laryngeal nerves (CN VII) lie deep to mucous membrane of piriform fossa

Question 12

Describe the structure of tonsils

Answer 12

lymphoid tissue found in several places, forming Waldeyer’s ring

Question 13

name the 4 types of tonsils and where they are found

Answer 13

pharyngeal tonsils- found in nasopharynx (referred to as adenoids when enlarged)
tubal tonsils- found in nasopharynx, around tympanic tube opening
palatine tonsils- found in fauces (oropharynx)
lingual tonsils- found on posterior 1/3 tongue

Question 14

describe the muscles of the pharynx?

Answer 14

3 pharyngeal constrictors- superior, middle and inferior:
- overlapping structure
- supplied by vagus nerve (CN X)
- inferior contrictor has lower circular part which acts as a sphincter around upper esophagus
- act sequentially to move food down to esophagus during swallowing

3 pharyngeal elevators:
- palatopharyngeus
- stylopharyngeus
- salpingopharyngeus
- descend from skull and fan out in inner surface of pharynx
- supplied by CN X except stylopharyngeus (supplied by CN IX)

Question 15

describe the features of hard palate (osteology, mucosa and features)

Answer 15

hard palate:
- anterior 3/4 formed by palatine process of maxilla
- posterior 1/4 formed by horizontal processes of palatine bones
- mucosa of hard palate has palatine rugae (help tongue movement, unique to individual)
- incisive papilla (overlies incisive fossa- depression in midline)- opening of incisive canals (nasopalatine nerve and greater palatine artery)
-greater palatine and lesser palatine foramen

Question 16

Why does LA into gingiva anesthetize the mucosa of the palate?

Answer 16

superior lingual gingiva is continuous with mucosa of the palate

Question 17

what does lesser palatine nerve supply?

Answer 17

lesser palatine nerve is a branch of maxillary nerve (CNV2) and supplies the soft palate

Question 18

what does the greater palatine nerve supply?

Answer 18

greater palatine nerve is a branch of maxillary nerve (CN V2) and supplies the hard palate and gingiva up to 1st premolar

Question 19

what is the pterygopalatine ganglion?

Answer 19

pterygopalatine ganglion sits deep in pterygopalatine fossa, with branches of CN V2, innervated by greater petrosal nerve (branch of CN VII)
parasympathetic ganglion

Question 20

describe features of the soft palate?

Answer 20

soft palate is a muscular continuation of hard palate that separates naso and orop pharynx
- palatine aponeurosis provides it with stability, attaches to posterior edge of hard palate and between the pterygoid hamuli on either side
- pterygoid hamuli- feature of medial plate of pterygoid process
- uvula sits on postero-inferior curved free margin

Question 21

what is the pillars of fauces?

Answer 21

palatoglossal and pharyngeal arches
palatoglossal forms the posterior border of the oral cavity
the space between the arches is isthmus of fauces (contains tonsillar fossae- palatine tonsils)

Question 22

what is the function of isthmus of fauces

Answer 22

the isthmus of fauces establishes connection between the oral cavity and oropharynx

Question 23

what is the uvula?

Answer 23

soft tissue projection posterior in oral cavity, helps create a seal when swallowing to prevent food/ liquid entering nasopharynx

Question 24

describe the blood supply to the hard and soft palate?

Answer 24

hard palate- greater palatine artery
soft palate- lesser palatine artery

Question 25

describe the venous drainage of the hard and soft palate

Answer 25

via pterygoid venous plexus

Question 26

describe the motor control of the muscles of soft palate

Answer 26

all muscles of the soft palate are supplied via pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve (CN X)
except- tensor veli palatini- supplied via mandibular nerve (CN V3)

Question 27

name the 5 muscles of the soft palate

Answer 27

levator veli palatini
tensor veli palatini
palatopharyngeus
palatoglossus
musculus uvuale

Question 28

describe the origin, insertion and action of tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini

Answer 28

tensor veli palatini:
- origin: scaphoid fossa, spine of sphenoid and pharyngotympanic tube
- insertion: palatine aponeurosis
- action: tenses soft palate, opens auditory tube during swallowing and yawning

levator veli palatini:
- origin: pharyngotympanic tube
- insertion: palatine aponeurosis
- action: lifts palate up

Question 29

what is the purpose of opening auditory tube during yawning?

Answer 29

to facilitate pressure exchange in the ear and outside

Question 30

describe the origin and insertion of palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus and musculus uvuale

Answer 30

palatoglossus:
- origin: palatine aponeurosis
- insertion: intrinsic muscles of tongue

palatopharyngeus:
- origin: hard palate and palatine aponeurosis
- insertion: lateral wall of pharynx

musculus uvuale:
- origin: posterior nasal spine and palatine aponeurosis
- insertion: uvula