Superficial structures of the neck

Question 1

What is the course of the glossopharyngeal nerve [IX]?

Answer 1

It leaves the cranial cavity through the jugular foramen, descends between the ICA and IJV, it passes forward between ICA and ECA in close relation to stylopharyngeus muscle supplying it. It continues in an anterior direction, deep to the hypoglossus muscle, to reach the bas of the tongue and the area of the palatine tonsil.

Question 2

What type of nerve is the glossopharyngeal nerve [IX]?

Answer 2

Mixed nerve

Question 3

What are the deep origin nuclei of the glossopharyngeal nerve?

Answer 3

Nucleus ambiguus (motor)
Solitary nucleus (taste sensation posterior 1/3 of tongue)
Inferior salivary nucleus (Parasympathetic tp parotid)

Question 4

What are the branches of the glossopharyngeal nerves?

Answer 4

Sensory branches:
Tonsillar branches
Lingual branches
Pharyngeal branches
Carotid branches
Parasympathetic (Tympanic branch):
It supplies the mucosa of middle ear and paotid gland via the lesser superficial petrosal
Motor branch to stylopharyngeus muscle

Question 5

What does a glossopharyngeal nerve lesion cause?

Answer 5

produce difficulty swallowing
impairment of taste and general sensation over the posterior one third of the tongue, palate and pharynx
And absent gag reflex
Dsyfunction of the parotid gland

Question 6

What is the course of the vagus nerve?

Answer 6

The vagus nerve exits the cranial cavity through the jugular foramen, it enters the carotid sheath and descends through the neck enclosed in the sheath, it continues to the thorax and abdomen

Question 7

What is the type of vagus nerve?

Answer 7

Mixed

Question 8

What is the motor origin of the vagus nerve?

Answer 8

Nucleus ambigus

Question 9

What is the parasympathetic origin of the vagus nerve?

Answer 9

Dorsal nucleus of vagus

Question 10

What is the sensory nucleus of the vagus nerve?

Answer 10

Nucleus solitarius