S9) Functional Anatomy of the Oral Cavity, Tongue & Pharynx Flashcards

1
Q

Identify and describe the borders of the oral cavity

A
  • Roof: hard and soft palates
  • Floor: muscular diaphragm & tongue
  • Lateral walls: buccinators
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2
Q

Describe the anterior and posterior extensions of the oral cavity

A
  • The oral cavity begins anteriorly at the oral fissure (bounded by lips)
  • The oral cavity extends posteriorly to the oropharyngeal isthmus
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3
Q

The oropharyngeal isthmus is an arch in the oral cavity (continues into oropharynx).

Identify and describe its borders

A
  • Superior: soft palate

- Below: upper surface of the tongue

  • Sides: anterior and posterior pillars of the fauces
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4
Q

Which muscles form the anterior and posterior faucial pillars?

A
  • Palatoglossus (anterior)
  • Palatopharyngeus (posterior)
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5
Q

What do the palatopharyngeus and palatoglossus muscles do?

A

They contract during chewing to pull the soft palate down towards the back of the tongue, closing the oropharyngeal isthmus so food remains in the oral cavity while chewing

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6
Q

What is the tonsillar fossa and why is it significant?

A

The tonsillar fossa is the space between the two faucial pillars which contains the palatine tonsils (visible when inflamed)

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7
Q

The intrinsic muscles of the tongue only attach to other structures in the tongue.

What are the four paired intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

A
  • Superior longitudinal muscle
  • Inferior longitudinal muscle
  • Transverse muscle
  • Vertical muscle
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8
Q

Describe the function and innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue

A
  • Function: affect the shape and size of the tongue and have a role in facilitating speech, eating and swallowing
  • Motor innervation: hypoglossal nerve (CNXII)
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9
Q

Identify the 4 extrinsic muscles of the tongue

A
  • Genioglossus muscle
  • Hyoglossus muscle
  • Styloglossus muscle
  • Palatoglossus muscle
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10
Q

What are the general functions of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

A

Extrinsic muscles allow protrusion, retraction and side-to-side movement of the tongue

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11
Q

What is the clinical significance of the genioglossus muscle?

A

The genioglossus muscle contracts to protrude the tongue and by its action, one can test the function of the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

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12
Q

Describe the motor innervation of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue

A
  • Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) – genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus muscles
  • Vagus nerve (CN X) – palatoglossus muscle
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13
Q

Describe the sensory innervation of the anterior 2/3 of the tongue

A
  • Sensation – trigeminal nerve (CN V3)
  • Taste – facial nerve (CN VII)
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14
Q

Describe the sensory innervation of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue

A

Sensation and taste – glossopharyngeal (CN IX)

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15
Q

What is the Wharton duct?

A

The submandibular duct (Wharton duct) is one of the salivary excretory ducts which drains saliva from each bilateral submandibular gland and sublingual gland to the base of the tongue

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16
Q

What is the Stensen duct?

A

The parotid duct (Stensen duct) is a duct and the route that saliva takes from the major salivary gland, the parotid gland into the mouth

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17
Q

What is Sialolithiasis?

A

Sialolithiasis (salivary gland stones) is a condition where a calcified mass / sialolith forms within a salivary gland, usually in the duct of the submandibular gland

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18
Q

Salivary gland stones reduce salivary flow.

Other than dehydration, what symptoms are experienced?

A
  • Pain in gland
  • Swelling
  • Infection
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19
Q

How is Sialolithiasis diagnosed?

A
  • History
  • X-ray
  • Sialogram
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20
Q

What is tonsillitis?

A

Tonsilitis is the recurrent inflammation of the tonsils (especially palatine tonsils) due to a virus or bacteria, often requiring a tonsillectomy (less common)

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21
Q

Identify 5 symptoms of tonsillitis

A
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Pain/difficulty swallowing
  • Cervical lymph node enlargement (jugulo-digastric)
  • Bad breath
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22
Q

What is a peritonsillar abscess?

A
  • A peritonsillar abscess is a bacterial infection that usually begins as a complication of untreated strep throat or tonsillitis
  • It generally involves a pus-filled pocket that forms near one of your tonsils
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23
Q

Identify 5 symptoms of peritonsillar abscesses

A
  • Severe throat pain
  • Fever
  • Bad breath
  • Drooling
  • Difficulty opening mouth
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24
Q

What is the pharynx and where is it found?

A
  • The pharynx is a muscular tube arising from the base of the skull down to the level of C6
  • It forms the upper part of the alimentary canal and lies posterior to the nasal and oral cavities
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25
Q

Describe the fascial covering of the pharynx

A

The posterior wall of the pharynx is covered with buccopharyngeal fascia and lies against the prevertebral layer of the deep fascia

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26
Q

What are the boundaries of the nasopharynx?

A
  • Superior: base of skull
  • Inferior: upper border of soft palate
  • Posterior: C1-C2 vertebrae
  • Anterior: nasal cavity
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27
Q

What is found in the nasopharynx?

A
  • Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)
  • Orifice of the Eustachian tube
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28
Q

What are the boundaries of the oropharynx?

A
  • Superior: soft palate
  • Inferior: epiglottis
  • Anterior: oral cavity
  • Posterior: C2-C3 vertebrae
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29
Q

What is found in the oropharynx?

A

Palatine tonsils (in tonsillar fossa)

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30
Q

What are the boundaries of the laryngopharynx?

A
  • Superior: oropharynx / epiglottis
  • Inferior: oesophagus / cricoid cartilage
  • Anterior: laryngeal inlet
  • Posterior: C4-C6 vertebrae
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31
Q

What is found in the laryngopharynx?

A

The piriform fossae (small depressions) are found on each side of the laryngeal inlet

32
Q

What is the clinical significance of the piriform fossa?

A
  • Potential site for the lodging of foreign bodies e.g. fish bone, chicken bone
  • Potential site for pharyngeal cancers
33
Q

What is the narrowest part of the pharynx?

A

The inferior end of the laryngopharynx

34
Q

Identify the 3 longitudinal muscles which elevate pharynx and larynx during swallowing

A
35
Q

State the origin and attachment of the stylopharyngeus muscle

A
  • Origin: styloid process
  • Attachment: posterior border of thyroid cartilage
36
Q

What innervates the stylopharyngeus muscle?

A

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

37
Q

State the origin and attachment of the palatopharyngeus muscle

A
  • Origin: hard palate
  • Attachment: posterior border of thyroid cartilage
38
Q

What innervates the palatopharyngeus muscle?

A

Pharyngeal branch of vagus (CN X)

39
Q

State the origin and attachment of the salpingopharyngeus muscle

A
  • Origin: cartilaginous part of ET
  • Attachment: merges with palatopharyngeus
40
Q

What innervates the salpingopharyngeus muscle?

A

Pharyngeal branch of vagus (CN X)

41
Q

Identify the 3 circular muscles which constrict the walls of the pharynx when swallowing

A
42
Q

Which nerve innervates the pharyngeal constrictor muscles?

A

Vagus nerve (CN X)

43
Q

What are the two muscles forming the inferior pharyngeal constrictor?

A
  • Thyropharyngeal muscle
  • Cricopharyngeal muscle
44
Q

What is found between the two muscles of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor?

A

Killian’s dehiscence – point of potential weakness between thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus

45
Q

What is a pharyngeal pouch?

A
  • A pharyngeal pouch represents a posteromedial (false) diverticulum through Killian’s dehiscence
  • The herniation occurs between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscles
46
Q

How does a pharyngeal pouch occur?

A
  • Failure of the UOS to relax (higher pressure in laryngopharynx)
  • Abnormal timing of swallowing
  • Weakness in inferior constrictor muscle produces outpouching
47
Q

How does a patient with a pharyngeal pouch present?

A

Symptoms related to food material collecting in pouch or disruption of swallowing:

  • Bad breath
  • Food regurgitation
  • Choking on fluids
  • Dysphagia
48
Q

What is the pharyngeal plexus and where is it located?

A
  • Pharyngeal plexus is a network of vagus, glossopharyngeal and cervical sympathetic nerves
  • Located mainly on surface of middle constrictor muscle
49
Q

Describe the motor innervation of the pharynx

A
  • Stylopharyngeus – glossopharyngeal nerve CN IX
  • All other muscles – vagus nerve CN X
50
Q

Describe the sensory innervation of the pharynx

A
  • Nasopharynx – maxillary nerve CN V2
  • Oropharynx – glossopharyngeal nerve CN IX
  • Laryngopharynx – vagus nerve CN X
51
Q

Stage 1 (oral) of swallowing is voluntary.

Outline what happens in this stage

A
  • Preparatory phase – making bolus
  • Transit phase – bolus compressed against palate and pushed into oropharynx by tongue and soft palate
52
Q

Which nerve controls stage 1 of swallowing?

A

Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

53
Q

Stage 2 (pharyngeal) of swallowing is involuntary.

Outline the 8 steps occuring in this stage

A

Tongue positioned against hard palate

Soft palate elevated to seal off nasopharynx

Suprahyoid and longitudinal muscles shorten

Pharynx widens and shortens to receive bolus

Larynx elevated and sealed off by vocal folds

Epiglottis closes over larynx (result of elevated hyoid)

Constrictors contract and bolus moves through pharynx

⇒ Relaxation of UOS

54
Q

Stage 3 (oesophageal) of swallowing is involuntary.

Identify the structures involved in this stage

A
  • Upper striated muscle of oesophagus (CN X)
  • Lower smooth muscle
55
Q

Identify 4 clinical conditions which cause dysphagia

A
  • Stroke
  • Progressive neurological disease (Parkinson’s/ MS)
  • COPD
  • Dementia
56
Q

Identify 5 signs and symptoms of dysphagia

A
  • Coughing & choking
  • Sialorrhoea (drooling)
  • Recurrent pneumonia
  • Change in voice/speech (wet voice)
  • Nasal regurgitation
57
Q

Which clinical signs indicate cranial nerve problems (CN IX, X) in the oral cavity?

A
  • Absent gag reflex (CN X & IX)
  • Uvula deviation – contralateral side to lesion (CN X)
58
Q

What are the subtle presentations of cranial nerve problems (CN IX, X) in the oral cavity?

A
  • Dysphagia
  • Taste impairment (posterior tongue)
  • Loss of sensation oropharynx
59
Q

Identify two causes of cranial nerve problems (CN IX, X) in the oral cavity

A
  • Medullary infarct
  • Jugular foramen issue (fracture)
60
Q

How do cranial nerve problems (XII) in the oral cavity present?

A
  • Wasted tongue (LMN)
  • Muscle wasting
  • Fasiculations
61
Q

How can one test for cranial nerve problems (XII) in the oral cavity?

A

Stick tongue out (tongue may deviate, points to side of lesion)

62
Q

What is adenoiditis?

A

Adenoiditis is the chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsils which may obstruct the passage of air from the nasal cavities into the nasopharynx, adding a nasal tone to speech

63
Q

What is the temporomandibular joint?

A

The temporomandibular joint is a joint formed by the articulation of the mandible and the temporal bone of the cranium

64
Q

Where is the TMJ found?

A

The TMJ is located anteriorly to the tragus of the ear, on the lateral aspect of the face

65
Q

Describe the articulating surfaces of the TMJ

A

The TMJ consists of articulations between the mandibular fossa and articular tubercle (from the squamous part of the temporal bone), and the head of mandible

66
Q

The articular surfaces of the bones are separated by an articular disk.

What is its role?

A

The articular disk splits the joint into two synovial joint cavities, each lined by a synovial membrane

67
Q

Which type of cartilage lines the articular surfaces of the TMJ?

A

The articular surface of the bones are covered by fibrocartilage, not hyaline cartilage

68
Q

There are three extracapsular ligaments which stablise the temporomandibular joint.

Identify them and describe their course/properties

A
  • Lateral ligament – runs from articular tubule to the mandibular neck, prevents posterior dislocation
  • Sphenomandibular ligament – runs from sphenoid spine to the mandible
  • Stylomandibular ligament – a thickening of the fascia of the parotid gland, supports the weight of the jaw
69
Q

Which two groups of muscles produce movement at the TMJ

A
  • Muscles of mastication
  • Suprahyoid muscles
70
Q

Identify two sets of movements possible at the TMJ

A
  • Protrusion & retraction
  • Elevation and depression
71
Q

Identify the muscles responsible for the protrusion and retraction of the jaw

A

The upper part of the joint allows protrusion and retraction:

  • Protrusion: lateral pterygoid (assisted by medial pterygoid)
  • Retraction: geniohyoid, digastric
72
Q

Identify the muscles responsible for the depression and elevation of the jaw

A

The lower part of the joint permits elevation and depression:

  • Depression: gravity (digastric, geniohyoid, mylohoid if resistance)
  • Elevation: temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid
73
Q

Describe the neurovascular supply of the TMJ

A
  • Arterial supply via branches of external carotid artery (superficial temporal & maxillary)
  • Innervation via auriculotemporal and masseteric branches of the mandibular nerve (CN V3)
74
Q

What is a TMJ dislocation?

A
  • TMJ dislocation is a dislocation where the head of the mandible slips out the mandibular fossa, is pulled anteriorly, and the patient is unable to close their mouth
  • It can occur due to a blow to the side of the face, yawning, or taking a large bite
75
Q

Can a posterior TMJ dislocation occur?

A

Posterior dislocations of the TMJ are possible, but very rare as it requires a large amount of force to overcome the postglenoid tubercle and strong intrinsic lateral ligament