Pharynx and Larynx

Question 1

pharynx

Answer 1

muscular tube
connected to nasal and oral cavities
part of both respiratory and digestive systems
continuous with esophagus inferiorly

Question 2

the pharynx consists of three portions

Answer 2

nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx

Question 3

nasopharynx

Answer 3

superior to soft palate
posterior to, and continuous with, the nasal cavity
contains pharyngeal tonsils and tubal tonsils

Question 4

oropharynx

Answer 4

portion of pharynx between soft palate and the opening of the larynx
posterior to, and continuous with, the oral cavity
contains palatine tonsils

Question 5

laryngopharynx

Answer 5

extends inferiorly from the level of epiglottis, posterior to the laryngeal opening
becomes esophagus inferiorly
contains piriform recesses

Question 6

retropharyngeal space

Answer 6

“danger space”
space posterior to pharynx, and anterior to the spine, lined by fascia
potential pathway for the spread of infection from oral cavity to the mediastinum and heart

Question 7

three overlapping constrictor muscles form the wall of pharynx:

Answer 7

superior pharyngeal constrictor
middle pharyngeal constrictor
inferior pharyngeal constrictor

Question 8

constrictor muscles of the pharynx

Answer 8

all 3 muscles constrict, narrow the pharynx, and help push food inferiorly
all are innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 9

palatopharyngeus

Answer 9

from soft palate to the wall of pharynx; moves both pharynx and soft palate
pulls pharyngeal wall superiorly and soft palate inferiorly
closes off nasopharynx during swallowing
innervation: vagus nerve

Question 10

palatoglossal arch is made of

Answer 10

palatoglossus muscle covered by mucous membrane

Question 11

all muscles of the pharynx are innervated by the ______ through the _______ ______

Answer 11

vagus nerve through the pharyngeal plexus

Question 12

pharyngeal plexus

Answer 12

network of branches from the CN IX and CN X nerves supplying most of the palate, pharynx and larynx

Question 13

motor nerve supply of the pharynx

Answer 13

CN IX (Glossopharyngeal nerve) is the sensory part of the plexus
CN X (Vagus nerve) is the motor part of the plexus

Question 14

sensory nerve supply of the pharynx

Answer 14

Nasopharynx: CN V and IX
Oropharynx: CN IX and X
Laryngopharynx: CN X

Question 15

_____________ is a reflex contraction of the constrictor muscles of pharynx

Answer 15

gag reflex

Question 16

gag reflex is evoked by

Answer 16

touching the wall of oropharynx with a long Q-tip

Question 17

sensory part of the gag reflex is carried by the

Answer 17

glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 18

motor part of the gag reflex is carried by the

Answer 18

vagus nerve

Question 19

the functioning of the __________ nerve is usually tested by the gag reflex during neurological exam

Answer 19

glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Question 20

piriform recesses

Answer 20

narrow “gutter-like” spaces in the laryngopharynx
paired L + R, on either side of larynx, common place for food to be trapped

Question 21

internal laryngeal nerve

Answer 21

contained in each recess
a branch of vagus nerve
irritation by the trapped food induces cough

Question 22

larynx

Answer 22

air passage to the lungs
voice production unit
protective sphincter
made of cartilage

Question 23

thyroid cartilage

Answer 23

largest, with the laryngeal prominence = Adam’s apple

Question 24

cricoid cartilage

Answer 24

full ring; trachea is inferior to it
connected to thyroid cartilage via movable joint

Question 25

larynx consists of

Answer 25

thyroid cartilage
cricoid cartilage
epiglottis

Question 26

internal anatomy of the larynx consists of

Answer 26

vestibule
vestibular folds
vocal folds
rima glottidis

Question 27

vestibule

Answer 27

the top portion, between epiglottis and vestibular folds

Question 28

vestibular folds

Answer 28

false vocal cords

Question 29

vocal folds

Answer 29

mobile, contain vocal ligament covered by mucous membrane

Question 30

rima glottidis

Answer 30

space between true vocal cords

Question 31

intrinsic muscles of the larynx move the vocal cords to

Answer 31

regulate the opening of the rima glottidis: determines how much air can enter the trachea and lungs, bringing vocal cords together closes off the entrance to the larynx

regulate the tension of the vocal cords, which determines the voice pitch

Question 32

extrinsic muscles of the larynx

Answer 32

muscles that attach to, and move, the hyoid bone

Question 33

vagus nerve gives two main branches to the larynx

Answer 33

1. superior laryngeal nerve - contains both motor and sensory fibres
2. recurrent laryngeal nerve - contains both motor and sensory fibres

Question 34

sensory innervation of larynx

Answer 34

above the level of vocal cords: internal laryngeal nerve
vocal cords and the area below: recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 35

motor innervation of intrinsic muscles of larynx

Answer 35

recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 36

recurrent laryngeal nerves lie just posterior to the lobes of the

Answer 36

thyroid gland

Question 37

an injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve causes

Answer 37

paralysis of vocal cords; results in difficulty speaking, or loss of voice

Question 38

thyroid gland

Answer 38

two lobes; connected by an isthmus
gland sits inferior to the thyroid cartilage, at the junction of larynx and trachea
produces hormone thyroxine that regulates metabolism