Pharynx & Larynx Flashcards
How far does the pharynx extend?
From base of skull –> C6
What does the pharynx contain?
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
What are the 3 pharyngeal constrictor muscles?
Superior constrictor (post. wall of nasoP) Middle constrictor (post. wall of oroP) Inferior constrictor (post. wall of laryngoP)
What marks the end of the pharynx and the start of the larynx?
Epiglottis
Where does the thyroid gland sit?
Anterior to thyroid cartilage (spans C5 -T1)
Where can an emergency tracheotomy be performed?
In cricothyroid membrane
Where do the parathyroid glands sit?
4 - sit on posterior surface of thyroid gland
What is the only complete cartilage ring around the airway?
Cricoid cartilage
What are the 5 branches of the facial nerve?
[To Zanzibar By Motor Car] Temporal Zygomatic Buccal Mandibular Cervical
What happens if sympathetic nerves to the head and neck are damaged?
Horner’s syndrome (will cause on the affected side):
- no facial sweating
- sunken eye
- drooping eyelid
- constricted pupil
What is the blood supply of the thyroid gland?
Superior thyroid artery (EXT carotid artery)
Inferior thyroid artery (subclavian artery)
What is the carotid sheath?
Tube of fascia containing:
- carotid artery
- internal jugular vein
- vagus nerve
Platysma muscle
- origin
- insertion
Origin: clavicle
Insertion: Mandible
Sternocleidomastoid
- origin
- insertion
- innervation
Origin: Manubrium
Insertion: Mastoid process of temporal bone
Innervation: CN XI accessory nerve
Function of sternocleidomastoid
Tilts and rotates the head
Omohyoid
- origin
- insertion
Origin: scapula
Insertion: hyoid bone
Sternohyoid
- origin
- insertion
Origin: sternum
Insertion: hyoid bone
Sternothyroid
- origin
- insertion
Origin: Sternum
Insertion: thyroid cartilage
Thyrohyoid
- origin
- insertion
Origin: thyroid cartilage
Insertion: hyoid bone
Function of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles (sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, etc.)?
Elevation and depression of larynx
What is the isthmus?
Joins the R & L thyroid glands
What is the fused 1st thoracic and lower cervical ganglia called?
Stellate ganglion
Where is the carotid sinus located and what does it detect?
At bifurcation of the common carotid
Detects blood pressure
What does the superior laryngeal nerve supply?
Sensation: larynx –> vocal cords
Motor: cricothyroid muscle
What does the recurrent laryngeal supply?
Motor: all muscles of larynx EXCEPT cricothyroid
Sensation: from larynx below vocal cords
What is the vallecula fossa?
Groove between posterior surface of tongue and epiglottis
What does the epiglottis go?
During swallowing it folds over laryngeal inlet to stop food/liquid being inhaled into lungs
What folds mark the entrance of the larynx?
Aryepiglottic folds
What do the arytenoid cartilages do?
Rotate on the cricoid cartilage to change vocal cords
What are the two muscles that rotate the arytenoid cartilages and move them together and apart?
Posterior cricoarytenoid [abduct]
Lateral cricoarytenoid [adduct]
What muscle lengthens and tenses the vocal cords?
Cricothyroid muscle
What two muscles can be seen on posterior surface of the arytenoid cartilages and what do they do?
Oblique arytenoid muscle
Horizontal arytenoid muscle
Close larynx during cough/ swallowing
What is the piriform recess?
Space on either side of the larynx
Why is the piriform recess important?
Large space where tumours can grow undetected
Food can get stuck here causing bad breath
What is the gap between the true vocal cords called?
Rima glottidis
What epithelium lines the trachea?
Respiratory epithelium (pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium w/ goblet cells)
What epithelium lines the vocal cords?
Non-keratinising stratified squamous epithelium
What are the 3 salivary glands?
Submandibular
Sublingual
Parotid gland
Where does the parotid ducts enter the mouth?
Adjacent to the cheek, by 2nd upper premolar
Where does the sublingual duct enter the mouth?
Under the tongue
Which nerve carries sensation from the larynx below the vocal cords?
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Which nerve travels through the parotid gland?
Facial nerve
What muscle ABDUCTS the vocal cords?
Posterior cricoarytenoid
