Pharynx & Oesophagus

Question 1

what is the only bone in the body that is not joined onto any other bones?

Answer 1

Hyoid Bone

Question 2

How many cranial nerves are there?

Answer 2

12

Question 3

What are the three structures that make up the pharynx?

Answer 3

Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Larayngopharynx

Question 4

Where are the Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Larayngopharynx located?

Answer 4

Nasopharynx – sits behind the nose

Oropharynx – sits behind the mouth/oral cavity

Laryngopharynx last part of pharynx before oesophagus/larynx

Question 5

Function of nasopharynx?

Answer 5

Respiratory function

Question 6

Function of oropharynx

Answer 6

Digestive function & respiratory function

Question 7

Name the four types of tonsils in waldezyers ring

Answer 7

Pharyngeal, Tubal, Palatine and Lingual tonsils.

Question 8

Where are the four types of waldeyers ring tonsils located?

Answer 8

Pharyngeal tonsil – in roof of nasopharynx

Tubal tonsils – also in roof of nasopharynx

Palatine tonsils – in oropharynx

Lingual tonsils - posterior one third of the tongue

Question 9

Name the two groups of pharyngeal contractors

Answer 9

Longitudinal and circular

Question 10

what does itis mean

Answer 10

inflammation

Question 11

name an inflammatory infection of the pharynx

Answer 11

Middle ear infection (otitis media) or Tonsillitis

Question 12

Described the symptoms of tonsillitis

Answer 12

inflammation of tonsils. collections of lymphoid tissue (back of throat) and tubal tonsils (adenoids)

Question 13

How long is the oesophagus?

Answer 13

20-25cm

Question 14

where does the oesophagus run from?

Answer 14

pharynx -> stomach

Question 15

Name the two oesophageal sphincters

Answer 15

Upper (anatomical) and lower (physiological) sphincter

Question 16

Name is the type of epithelium (histology) of the oesophagus

Answer 16

Stratified squamous (non-keratinising) epithelium

Question 17

why is there a difference in type of muscle in the oesophagus?

Answer 17

Involuntary and voluntary responses.

Question 18

Define metaplasia?

Answer 18

change in epithelium from one type to another which is not typical of that site.

Question 19

Define dysplasia

Answer 19

Abnormal growth or development of cells and/or organs

Question 20

Two roles of deglutition

Answer 20

Food to stomach and prevention from food entering airway

Question 21

Function of oral phase (swallowing)

Answer 21

move food posteriorly, some can pass onto pharyngeal surface of tongue.

Question 22

What is dysphagia

Answer 22

Difficulty swallowing

Question 23

Causes of dysphagia?

Answer 23

neuromuscular disease, obstructions.- strictures, spasm, tumours, developmental abnormality.

Question 24

Name a condition of the oesphagus

Answer 24

Tracheo-oesophageal fistula

Question 25

Symptoms of tracheo-oesphageal in a newborn baby?

Answer 25

repeated vomiting after every feed

Question 26

what nerves comprises the pharyngeal plexus and what type of fibres are present in it?

Answer 26

glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve. Motor and sensory fibres

Question 27

what vessels are closely related to the pharyngeal plexus?

Answer 27

common carotid artery and internal jugular veins

Question 28

name the pharyngeal constrictors

Answer 28

superior, middle and inferior constrictors

Question 29

how do the muscular arrangement of the constrictors differ to the rest of the GI tract?

Answer 29

Inner longitudinal and outer circular muscular arrangement

Question 30

what is the role of the pharyngeal constrictors?

Answer 30

contraction of pharynx

Question 31

what symptom would appear if the was damage to the nerve supply

Answer 31

inability to pass food down easily

Question 32

how would you test clinically for damage to the nerve supply (glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve)

Answer 32

ask patient to say 'aggghhh' as it is the same nerve supply as the uvula (vagus nerve)

Question 33

what is type of epithelium is present in the oesophagus?

Answer 33

stratified squamous epithlium (non-keratinising)

Question 34

what is the benefit of stratified squamous epithelium in the oesophagus?

Answer 34

allows for repeated trauma without damage to underlying tissues

Question 35

how do the types of muscle vary throughout its length in the oesophagus

Answer 35

skeletal, mixed and then smooth

Question 36

what forms the oesophageal sphincter

Answer 36

the diaphragm

Question 37

what are the anatomical boundaries of the nasopharynx

Answer 37

base of skull and soft palate

Question 38

what types of lymphoid tissue are closely related to the opening of the auditory (eustachian) tube?

Answer 38

Pharyngeal and tubal tonsils

Question 39

what does the auditory tube communicate with and why I this a problematic site in children?

Answer 39

middle ear. It is shorter and straighter allowing easier access for ascending infection.

Question 40

what is Achlasia? (clinical condition of the oesophagus)

Answer 40

a condition in which the muscles of the lower part of the oesophagus fail to relax, preventing food from passing into the stomach.

Question 41

how can Achlasia be treated?

Answer 41

Balloon dilatation / treatment of underlying pathology eg cancerous growth

Question 42

a patient with achalasia, what would the patient complain of?

Answer 42

Dysplasia - difficulty swallowing

Question 43

what comprised the mucosa of the oesophagus

Answer 43

epithelium, lamina propria and muscularis mucosae

Question 44

what is present in the submucosa of the oesophagus

Answer 44

Loose collagen, blood vessels, lymphatics and a nerve plexus.

Question 45

what is the arrangement of the muscle in the musculsris propria (and is typical throughout the GI tract)

Answer 45

inner circular (contracts lumen) outer longitudinal (shortens length)

Question 46

what is present in the adventitia

Answer 46

Major blood vessels and nerves, as well as adipose tissue

Question 47

abnormal oesphagus - barrettes syndrome - what does the epithelium look like?

Answer 47

epithelial metaplasia Columnar epithelium and stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 48

what causes the appearance in the epithelium from Barretts syndrome

Answer 48

GORD (gastrointestinal reflux disease)

Question 49

what does GORD condition predispose a patient to developing

Answer 49

dysplasia and subsequent cancer

Question 50

what is the collective name for the 4 tonsils

Answer 50

Waldeyers ring

Question 51

what are tonsils composed of

Answer 51

Lymphoid tissue

Question 52

where are the oesophageal sphincters located

Answer 52

upper and lower ends of the oesophagus

Question 53

what anatomical structure sits anterior to the oesophagus trachea stomach intestine pharynx

Answer 53

trachea

Question 54

what is achalasia and what is an important differential diagnosis to keep in mind with this type of image, as show in the barium swallow

Answer 54

Oesophageal motility disorder. Have to keep in mind the possible diagnosis of oesophageal cancer.