Throat anatomy and Physiology

Question 1

what are the 3 subdivisions of the pharynx?

Answer 1

nasopharynx
oropharynx
hypopharynx

Question 2

what are the 2 parts of the oral cavity?

Answer 2

oral vestibule (between lips and teeth)
oral cavity proper

Question 3

what are the boundaries of the oral cavity?

Answer 3

lips to palatoglossal arch
palate to floor of mouth/tongue
buccal mucosa

Question 4

what muscle does the parotid duct pierce?

Answer 4

buccinator

Question 5

what muscle does the submandibular duct lie superior to?

Answer 5

digastric muscle

Question 6

what muscle separates the deep and superficial lobes of the submandibular duct?

Answer 6

mylohyloid

Question 7

what does the lingual nerve supply?

Answer 7

general somatic afferent innervation from the anterior 2/3ds of the tongue.

Question 8

what is the lingual nerve a branch of?

Answer 8

mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve

Question 9

what special nerve fibres does the lingual nerve carry?

Answer 9

chorda tympani nerve of the facial nerve

Question 10

what is the function of the chorda tympani?

Answer 10

provides special sensation (taste) to the anterior 2/3 of tongue

Question 11

what are the functions of the oral cavity?

Answer 11

taste
mastication
speech
digestion
swallowing

Question 12

what are the anterior 2/3ds of the tongue formed from embryologically?

Answer 12

1st branchial arch

Question 13

what is the posterior 1/3 of the tongue formed from embryologically?

Answer 13

3rd branchial arch

Question 14

what supplies the posterior part of the tongue?

Answer 14

glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 15

what 2 types of muscles are contained in the tongue?

Answer 15

intrinsic

extrinsic

Question 16

what is the function of intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 16

alters shape

Question 17

what is the function of extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 17

alters position

Question 18

what supples the muscles of the tongue?

Answer 18

hypoglossal nerve supplies everything except the palatoglossus

Question 19

what nerve supplies the palatoglossus?

Answer 19

pharyngeal plexus

Question 20

what muscles participate in mastication (chewing)

Answer 20

lateral pterygoid
medial pterygoid
temporalis
masseter

Question 21

what nerve controls mastication

Answer 21

CN V3 (mandibular nerve)

Question 22

what joint do the muscles of chewing act upon?

Answer 22

the temporomandibular joint

Question 23

what are the boundaries of the oropharynx?

Answer 23

lower border of soft palate to upper margin of epiglottis
palatoglossal arch to posterior pharyngeal wall
lateral: faucal pillars and palatine tonsils

Question 24

what type of epithelium lines the oropharynx?

Answer 24

stratified, non keratinised squamous

Question 25

what nerves supply the oro pharynx?

Answer 25

pharyngeal plexus - CN IX and X

Question 26

what are the extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 26

genioglossus
styloglossus
hyoglossus
palatoglossus

Question 27

what arteries supply the hypopharynx?

Answer 27

superior thyroid artery
lingual artery
ascending pharyngeal artery

Question 28

what nerves supply the hypopharynx?

Answer 28

pharyngeal plexus

Question 29

what are the boundaries of the hypopharynx?

Answer 29

superior margin of the epiglottis to lower border of the cricoid cartilage
continuous with the oesophagus
anterior wall: back of larynx

Question 30

what 3 subsites is the hypopharynx divided into?

Answer 30

pyriform sinus
post cricoid area
posterior pharyngeal wall

Question 31

what are the 3 phases of swallowing?

Answer 31

oral phase (voluntary)
pharyngeal phase
oesophageal phase

Question 32

what afferent nerves are involved in the oral phase of swallowing?

Answer 32

CN: V, IX, X
efferent: CN VII, X XII

Question 33

where in the brain is the “swallowing centre” located

Answer 33

medulla

Question 34

describe the steps in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing?

Answer 34

1. soft palate pulled upwards
2. epiglottis covers the laryns, vocal cords approximate, larynx moves upwards
3. UOS relaxes
4. respiration is reflex inhibited

Question 35

describe the steps in the oesophageal phase of swallowing

Answer 35

once bolus passed UOS, sphincter constricts

bolus propelled downwards via peristaltic motion, reflex via myenteric plexus

Question 36

what are the 3 parts of the larynx?

Answer 36

supraglottis
glottis
subglottic

Question 37

what are the 7 segments of cartilage in the larynx?

Answer 37

cricoid cartilage
thyroid cartilage
epiglottis
paired arytenoid cartilages (corniculate and cuneiform)

Question 38

what are the extrinsic muscles of the larynx?

Answer 38

infrahyoid
suprahyoid
thyrohyoid

Question 39

what is the function of the extrinsic muscles of the larynx

Answer 39

move the entire laryngeal complex

Question 40

what are the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?

Answer 40

posterior crico-arytenoid
oblique arytenoids
transverse arytenoid
lateral crico-arytenoids
thyro-arytenoids

Question 41

what is the function of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?

Answer 41

regulate movement of the vocal chords

Question 42

what is responsible for motor innervation of the larynx?

Answer 42

CN X

Question 43

what nerve supplies all intrinsic larynx muscles? (motor)

Answer 43

recurrent laryngeal nerve except for cricothyroid muscle (external laryngeal nerve)

Question 44

what provides sensory innervation to the larynx?

Answer 44

supraglottic: internal laryngeal nerve
glottic and subglottic:
recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 45

why is there a higher risk of injuring the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery?

Answer 45

it has a longer course since it loops around the aortic arch os opposed to the right subclavian artery and therefore has a higher risk of injury during operative chest procedures

Question 46

what are the 5 steps of speech?

Answer 46

respiration
phonation
resonation
articulation
prosody