Pharynx & Larynx

Question 1

what are the muscles of the pharynx and what innervates them

Answer 1

superior, middle and inferior constrictors - innervated by vagus nerve
stylypharyngeus - glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 2

what is the attachments of the constrictor muscles

Answer 2

superior - pterygomandibular raphe to pharyngeal raphe
middle - hyoid bone to pharyngeal raphe
inferior - thyroid cartilage to pharyngeal raphe

Question 3

where does the pharyngeal raphe come from

Answer 3

pharyngeal tubercle

Question 4

where does the pterygomandibular raphe lie

Answer 4

between the pterygoid hamulus and mandible

Question 5

describe the origin and attachment of the lateral pterygoid muscle and its action

Answer 5

superior head - base of skull to TMJ
inferior head - lateral border of lateral pterygoid plate to pterygoid fovea on neck of mandible
action - depress and protrude mandible

Question 6

describe the origin and attachment of the medial pterygoid muscle and its action

Answer 6

deep head - medial side of medial pterygoid plate to ramus at the angle of the mandible
superficial head - maxillary tuberosity to angle of mandible
action - elevate, protrude and side to side movement (with lateral)

Question 7

where is the pterygomandibular space and what lies here

Answer 7

between medial pterygoid and ramus of mandible - inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve and pterygoid venous plexus

Question 8

what does the external carotid artery split into

Answer 8

maxillary artery and superficial temporal artery

Question 9

describe the origin attachment and action of temporalis

Answer 9

origin - inferior temporal line, runs deep to zygomatic arch
attachment - coronoid process and medial ramus
action - elevation and retraction of mandible

Question 10

describe the origin attachment and action of massetter muscle

Answer 10

origin - lower border or zygomatic arch
attachment - ramus and angle of mandible
action - elevation of mandible

Question 11

what are the borders of the nasopharynx

Answer 11

free edge of nasal septum to free edge of soft palate

Question 12

where does it change from oral cavity to oropharynx

Answer 12

palatoglossal folds

Question 13

where do the palatine tonsils lie

Answer 13

in the tonsilar recess, between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds

Question 14

where are the tubal tonsils

Answer 14

at the tubal elevation, around the opening of the auditory tube in the nasopharynx

Question 15

what makes up waldeyers ring

Answer 15

palatine tonsils, pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids), lingual tonsils, tubal tonsils

Question 16

where is the vallecula

Answer 16

deep recess between tongue and epiglottis

Question 17

what are the boundaries of the oropharynx

Answer 17

palatoglossal folds to tip of epiglottis

Question 18

where does the larynx become the trachea

Answer 18

vertebrae c6

Question 19

what muscle is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve

Answer 19

stylopharyngeus

Question 20

what nerves control the gag reflex

Answer 20

sensory - glossopharyngeal to the oropharynx

motor - vagus nerve

Question 21

what is quinsy

Answer 21

infection at the tonsils, then spreads to surrounding areas - need strong antibiotics or to drain the abscess

Question 22

what are the folds around the rima glottis

Answer 22

epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds around lateral and posterior, vocal folds, vestibular folds, corniculate cartilage

Question 23

what prevents food entering the larynx

Answer 23

sphincter mechanism at the top of larynx to close it off, when bolus hits epiglottis it goes down to close the larynx off

Question 24

why do the vocal folds appear whiter

Answer 24

stratified squamous epithelium - thicker epithelium so capillaries are further away

Question 25

what produces sounds

Answer 25

when talking, adduct vocal cords, air passes over them and causes them to vibrate - vowel sounds
our lips, nose, tongue then contribute to the constinent sounds

Question 26

what causes a higher pitch in voice

Answer 26

cricothyroid joint is synovial joint between inferior horn of thyroid and cricoid, allows the thyroid cartilage to tilt on the cricoid - increases tension in vocal folds to increase the pitch

Question 27

what do the vocal folds attach to

Answer 27

anteriorly - laryngeal prominence of thyroid cartilage

posteriorly - arytenoid cartilage

Question 28

what muscles work to adduct the vocal folds

Answer 28

inter arytenoid muscles, supplied by recurrent laryngeal nerve - branch of vagus nerve

Question 29

what muscles work to abduct the vocal folds

Answer 29

posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, supplied by recurrent laryngeal nerve - branch of vagus

Question 30

describe how a cough is actioned

Answer 30

first take a deep breathe in - diaphragm contracts
inter arytenoid muscles contract to close the larynx
increases pressure in abdomen
abdominal muscles contract to force air out
posterior cricoarytenoid muscle contracts to open larynx