Respiratory tract anatomy

Question 1

Innervation of the Tensor Tympani and Stapedius

Answer 1

Tensor tympani: Mandibular nerve (CN Vc)

Stapedius: Cranial nerve VII

Question 2

Innervation of the Tympanic membrane

Answer 2

Tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Auriculotemporal branch of the Mandibular nerve
Auricular branch of the Cervical Plexus

Question 3

Innervation of the Auricle/Pinna

Answer 3

Auricular and auriculotemporal branches

Question 4

Innervation of the Middle Ear

Answer 4

Tympanic branch of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve

Question 5

Function of the Eustachian Tube

Answer 5

Equalises pressure within the middle ear with atmospheric pressure - allowing free movement of the tympanic membrane.

Question 6

Innervation of the Eustachian Tube

Answer 6

Tympanic plexus - fibres of the glossopharyngeal nerve .

Question 7

Function of the tensor tympani and stapedius. Loss?

Answer 7

Tensor tympani: Decreases the amplitude of vibrations and tenses the tympanic membrane. Protects the ear from loud noises.
Stapedius: Prevents excessive movement of the stapes and decreases oscillatory range.
Loss of the function of either of these muscles leads to hyperacusis or noise hypersensitivity.

Question 8

Drainage of Sinuses

Answer 8

Sphenoid sinus –> Sphenoethmoidal recess
Ethmoidal sinus
Anterior –> Hiatus semilunaris –> Middle meatus
Middle –> Ethmoidal bullosa – > Middle meatus
Posterior –> Superior meatus
Maxillary sinus –> Middle meatus
Frontal –> Frontonasal duct –> Hiatus semilunaris – >Middle meatus
Nasolacrimal duct –> Inferior meatus

Question 9

Innervation of the Sinuses

Answer 9

All are supplied by the Trigeminal nerve

Question 10

Structure close to the lateral wall of the Ethmoidal Sinus and possible consequences

Answer 10

The orbit lies close to the ethmoidal sinus. Infection may spread to the orbit and optic nerve. The bone is very thin and may easily be fractured, can see intra-orbital bleeding.

Question 11

Maxillary sinus infection

Answer 11

Greater likelihood due to the maxillary sinuses not being drained by gravity, can lead to accumulation.
Toothache may be seen as the Maxillary sinuses are closely related to the upper molars.

Question 12

Mastoid air cells: Lining and complications of infection

Answer 12

Lined by squamous non-ciliated epithelial cells.
They may become infected following a middle ear infection, as the infection spreads through the aditus. This can be potentially life threatening as the infection may spread to the brain, resulting in meningitis.

Question 13

Functions of the Conchae

Answer 13

To create turbulence within inhaled air. Allows the air to the moistened and warmed. Increase surface area.

Question 14

Functions of the sinus

Answer 14

Lighten the head, add resonance to the voice

Question 15

Epithelium lining the nasal cavities

Answer 15

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells.

Question 16

Sphenoethmoidal recess: Position and function

Answer 16

Found posterior to the superior concha.

The Sphenoid sinus opens into it.

Question 17

Innervation of the nasal cavity

Answer 17

The nasal cavity is supplied by the trigeminal nerve. The upper portion is supplied by the ophthalmic branch whilst the lower portion is supplied by the maxillary branch.

Question 18

What passes through the cribiform plate?

Answer 18

The olfactory nerves

Question 19

Joints found between the ossicles

Answer 19

Synovial

- Prone to Rheumatoid arthritis. Can lead to conductive hearing loss with age

Question 20

Muscles of the Soft Palate

Answer 20

Palatoglossal arch
Palatine tonsils lie between
Palatopharyngeus arch
Uvula
Levitor Veli Palatini
Tensor Veli Palatini

Question 21

3 paired cartilages of the Larynx

Answer 21

Cuneiform, arytenoid and corniculate

Arytenoid movement is permitted by the crico-arytenoid joints.

Question 22

3 unpaired cartilages of the Larynx

Answer 22

Hyoid, thyroid and cricoid
Laryngeal prominence: Found on the thyroid cartilage. Well-marked in men
Cricoid: Only complete ring of cartilage to encircle any part of the airway

Question 23

Laryngeal membranes/ligaments

Answer 23

Thyrohyoid, cricothyroid ligament, cricotracheal ligament

Question 24

Structures of the vocal cords

Answer 24

Rima glottis, vestibular folds (false - no sound production), vocal folds,

Question 25

Function of the epiglottis

Answer 25

Cartilaginous structure

Prevents aspiration of food into the pulmonary system.

Question 26

Vertebral levels of the larynx

Answer 26

C3-C6

Cricoid cartilage: C6

Question 27

Piriform fossa:

Location and possible complications

Answer 27

Location: A recess in the laryngopharynx on either side of the vestibule of the larynx, separated from it by the aryepiglottic folds. (Situated on either side of the larynx inlet)
The internal laryngeal nerve (a continuation of the recurrent laryngeal) lies within, could be damaged when retrieving foreign bodies.

Question 28

Extrinsic laryngeal muscles

Answer 28

Move the larynx as a whole
Infrahyoid muscles
Suprahyoid muscles
Stylopharyngeus

Question 29

Intrinsic laryngeal muscles

Answer 29

Alter the length and tension of the vocal cords
Posterior cricoarytenoid: Pulls Cords Apart (PCA)
Lateral cricoarytenoid: Adduction
Cricothyroid:
Thyroarytenoid (vocalis):787

Question 30

Motor supply of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles

Answer 30

Superior laryngeal nerve (external branch) (CN X)
Cricothyroid muscle
All others
Recurrent laryngeal nerve (superior branch) (CN X)

Question 31

Sensory supply of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles

Answer 31

Superior laryngeal nerve supplies laryngeal epithelium above the vocal folds
Recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies the epithelium below the vocal folds.

Question 32

Superior laryngeal nerve

Answer 32

A branch of the vagus nerve (CN X).

Has 2 branches, the internal and external branch.