Pterygopalatine Fossa, Nasal Cavity Flashcards
Describe the pathway a nerve signal takes to innervate the lacrimal gland to cry.
Facial nerve > Greater petrosal Nerve (in MCF) > Pterygopalatine ganglion (no synapse) > Hops onto V2 division > Zygomatic nerve >Communicating Nerve > Lacrimal nerve > Lacrimal gland stimulated to produce tears.
Define concha.
These are scrolls of bone in the nasal cavity that creates turbulent airflow to better condition the inspired air.
Respiratory mucosa functions to secrete _______, filter and _______ the air. This mucosa can break leading to ___________ in cold, dry weather or if agitated.
Mucous, moisten;
Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
Describe the nasal cycle.
Each nostril toggles between congestion and decongestion every 2-3 hours. PSNS congests the nasal mucosa, increasing blood flow. The SNS decongestion the mucous and increased ciliary movement to move mucous out of the sinuses.
Define Rebound Congestion.
This is the severe response that is expected after a prolonged decongestion that was caused from medicine that overstimulates the SNS (I.e. epinephrine).
The anterior part of the nasal cavity is innervated by the __________ nerve which is a branch of V1. It is sustains autonomic to the mucosal membrane an perceives the sense of smell. The posterior part of this cavity is innervated by the __________ _________.
Nasociliary nerve; Maxillary division (V2)
Where is sinusitus perceived at each level of the paranasal sinuses?
Frontal sinus - pressure behind the eye;
Ethmoidal sinus - felt on nose bridge;
Maxillary sinus - felt as upper tooth pain similar to a tooth-ache
Sphenoid - if severe, an infection can erode through the hollow bones
This can lead to meningitis.
What drains the frontal and maxillary sinuses respectively?
Frontal sinus drains into the middle meatus via the frontonasal duct. The maxillary sinus drains into the middle meatus via the Ostium. The drained tears from the eyeball, come enter the inferior meatus through the Nasolacrimal duct. This explains why we sniffle when we tear up.
Describe the Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy procedure and the significance if not done correctly.
This procedure involves taking out a tumor of the pituitary gland by breaking through the sphenoid sinus bone through the nasal cavity. If this is not resolved well, the tumor can grow into the optic chiasm leading to Bilateral Hemianopsia or the nose can leak with CSF (+ glucose levels)
The pterygopalatine ganglion is attached to the _________ division and the _________ ______ nerve through CN VII.
Maxillary division (V2); Greater Petrosal nerve via CN VII
Trace the pathway of the Greater petrosal nerve from where it branched off the facial nerve (CN VII) in the middle ear.
Greater Petrosal nerve > Facial Canal > Haitus for Greater Petrosal Nerve > Foramen lacerum > Pterygoid Canal > PPF to synapse on Pterygopalatine ganglion.
The Pterygopalatine ganglion is a nexus for preganglionic fibers of the ___________ _________ nerve. The post-ganglionics of the palatine nerves and the ______ division get to the ________ nerve that passes through the _________ nerve which directly innervates the lacrimal gland.
Greater Petrosal nerve (CN VII); Maxillary division (V2), Zygomatic Nerve, Lacrimal Nerve
The blood supply to the contents of the pterygopalatine fossa are the _______ ______ artery and its branches: maxillary artery, sphenopalatine A, Infraorbital and descending palatine artery.
External Carotid Artery
Describe the pathway for a perceived brain freeze aka “Sphenopalatine Ganglioneuralgia”.
Ice cream on hard palate > Palatine nerve > passes through pterygopalatine ganglion > Maxillary division (V2) > Trigeminal ganglion
What explains the pain felt from a brain freeze?
Pain comes from sudden vasoconstriction and vasodilation. This referred pain is felt slightly above eye level and at the nose bridge.
