Throat Anatomy

Question 1

describe the folds of the oropharynx

Answer 1

palatoglossal (above tongue) and palatopharyngeal (inferior to soft palate) w/ palatine tonsil in b/w

Question 2

valleculae

Answer 2

space b/w epiglottis and tongue base

Question 3

describe laryngopharynx

Answer 3

posterior to larynx, from epiglottis to beginning of esophagus

Question 4

laryngeal inlet

Answer 4

communicates b/w laryngopharynx and larynx

Question 5

waldeyer’s ring

Answer 5

ring of 4 tonsils around the pharynx: pharyngeal, tubal, palatine, lingual

Question 6

importance of lingual branch of glossopharyngeal

Answer 6

beneath thin tonsillar bed, can be injured during surgery and cause taste disturbances to posterior 1/3 of tongue

Question 7

3 circular muscles of pharynx and fn

Answer 7

superior, middle, inferior

propel food from oropharynx to laryngopharynx

Question 8

3 longitudinal pharyngeal muscles

Answer 8

stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus

Question 9

innervation of pharyngeal muscles

Answer 9

all from vagus EXCEPT stylopharyngeus- from glossopharyngeal IX

Question 10

piriform recesses

Answer 10

fossae along lateral walls of laryngopharynx, common sites for food to be lodged

smugglers fossa

Question 11

sensory innervation for the 3 regions of the pharynx

Answer 11

naso: V2 trigeminal
oro: glossopharyngeal
laryngo: vagus

Question 12

3 deep cervical fascia (superficial to deep)

Answer 12

investing, prevertebral, pretracheal

Question 13

buccopharyngeal fascia

Answer 13

posterior extension of pretracheal layer

Question 14

describe the space b/w the prevertebral fascia and the buccopharyngeal fascia

Answer 14

divided into two spaces by alar fascia- retropharyngeal space and the danger space

major path for infection b/w neck and thorax

Question 15

3 main fns of larynx

Answer 15

sound production, protection of tracheal airway during swallowing, valve for increased abdominal pressure

Question 16

extensions of the cricothryroid membrane

Answer 16

lateral portions extend superiorly and deep inside thyroid cartilage as the conus elasticus

superior conus elasticus is the vocal ligament

Question 17

differentiate two vocal cords

Answer 17

true vocal cord: vocal fold (ligament w/ mucosa), inferior

false vocal cord: vestibular fold, superior

Question 18

what are the 3 spaces w/i larynx

Answer 18

supraglottic- above vestibular folds

subglottic- below vocal folds

ventricle- in b/w folds

Question 19

rima glottidis

Answer 19

aperture b/w two vocal folds

Question 20

what are the extrinsic laryngeal muscles

Answer 20

the suprahyoids and infrahyoids

Question 21

differentiate the roles of the cricothyroid muscle and the posterior cricoarytenoid

Answer 21

cricothyroid tenses/ stretches vocal cords- higher pitched sounds

cricoarytenoid abducts vocal cords

Question 22

how is the larynx innervated

Answer 22

vagus is all the motor and sensory

Question 23

describe the laryngeal branching of the vagus

Answer 23

superior: into external (cricothyroid) and internal branches (thyrohoid membrane to larynx above vocal cords)
recurrent: loop down under aortic arch (left) and right subclavian (right) and ascend to innervate larynx below vocal cords

recurrent can be affected by mediastinal processes (aortic aneurysm, mediastinal tumor) and cause hoarseness