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Head and Neck > Week 10.1 - The pharynx > Flashcards

Week 10.1 - The pharynx Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the location of the nasopharynx. State its boudaries

A
  • In line with C1
  • From the back of the nose to the soft palate
  • Superior = base of skull
  • Inferior = level of soft palate
  • Anterior = posterior choanae
  • Posterior =nasopharyngeal tonsil (adenoid) and C1
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2
Q

Describe the location of the oropharynx. State its boundaries

A
  • In line with C2 and C3
  • From the soft palate to superior epiglottis
  • Superior = level of the soft palate
  • Inferior = supeior edge of epiglottis
  • Anterior = oral cavity
  • Posterior = c2/3
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3
Q

Describe the location of the laryngopharynx. State its boundaries

A
  • From the superior border of epiglottis to the opening if the oesophagus/trachea
  • In line with C4,5 and 6
  • Superior = Superior ridge of epiglottis
  • Inferior = level of inferior cricoid cartilage
  • Anterior = larynx
  • Posterior = c3-c6
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4
Q

In which part of the pharynx does the palatine tonsil lie?

A

-oropharynx

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5
Q

What lines the nasopharynx?

A

-Respiratory ciliated pseudostratified epithelium and stratified squamous

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6
Q

What structures lie in the nasopharynx?

A
  • Adenoids

- Eustachian tube orifice

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7
Q

What is the palatoglossal arch?

A
  • The anterior arch in the oral cavity

- Marks the boundary between the oral cavity an the oropharynx

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8
Q

What is the palatopharyngeal arch?

A

-Posterior arch in the oral cavity

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9
Q

Describe the palatine tonsil

A

-An encapsulated area of lymphoid tissue covered in squamous epithelium

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10
Q

When do the palatine tonsils begin to atrophy?

A

-After puberty

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11
Q

What makes the floor of the tonsillar fossa?

A

-Superior constrictor muscle

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12
Q

Describe the blood supply to the palatine tonsils

A
  • Tonsillar branch of facial artery (aso lingual and ascending pharyngeal/palatine)
  • Venous is pharyngeal plexus (and also paratonsilar vein)
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13
Q

Describe the lymphatic drainage of the palatine tonsils

A

-Lymphatics pierce superior constrictor muscle and pass to nodes along the internal jugular vein, specifically jugulodigastric

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14
Q

What tonsils create waldeyers ring?

A

-Palatine, adenoid (nasopharyngeal), lingual, tubal

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15
Q

Which nodes do the adenoids drain to?

A

-deep cervical and retropharyngeal

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16
Q

What are the constrictor muscles of the pharynx?

A
  • Superior, middle and inferior muscles which overlap one another. They are open at the front (attach laterally to trachea) and attach posteriorly at the median raphe
  • Contract sequentially to move food bolus down the oesophagus
17
Q

Describe the innervation of the pharyngeal constrictors

A

-Superior laryngeal nerve

18
Q

Describe the process of swallowing

A
  • Oral phase -> Tongue elevates pushing food bolus to back of mouth. Soft palate elevates and seals off nasopharynx. Tongue and suprahyoid muscles pull up larynx
  • Pharyngeal phase ->Epiglottis changes shape to block trachea. Piriform fossa funnels food into laryngopharynx and sequential contraction of the constrictors and relaxation of cricopharyngeus
  • Oesophageal phase -> peristaltic contration of oesophagus
19
Q

Describe the blood supply to the pharynx

A

-Tonsillar branch of facial artery
-Ascending pharyngeal
-Ascending palatine
(all from ECA)

20
Q

Describe the venous drainage of the pharynx

A

-Pharyngeal plexus

IJV

21
Q

Describe the motor supply to the pharynx

A
  • Vagus (constrictors and palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus)
  • Glossopharyngeal (stylopharyngeus)
22
Q

Describe the sensory supply to the pharynx

A
  • Nasopharynx -> CNV2
  • Oropharynx -> CNIX
  • Hypopharynx -> CNX
23
Q

State what bony/cartilage features can be found at the vertebral levels of C1,2,3,4,5,6

A
  • C1 -> hard palate
  • C2-> angle of mandible
  • C3 -> hyoid bone
  • C4/5 -> Thyroid cartilage
  • C6 -> Cricoid cartilage
24
Q

Under what do the left and right RLNs pass?

A
  • Left = arch of aorta

- Right = right subclavian

25
Q

What is the most common cause of adenoid enlargement?

A

-Viral/bacterial infection

26
Q

After what age do the adenoids begin to regress?

27
Q

State the common consequencesNasalof adenoid enlargement

A
  • Eustachian tube obstruction (acute otitis media with effusion)
  • Nasal obstruction
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea
28
Q

Where does posterior herniation of pharyngeal mucosa most commonly occur? (pharyngeal diverticulum)
Why does it occur?

A
  • Killian’s dehiscence (inferior constrictor and cricopharyngeus)
  • Weaker area
  • Incoordination of swallowing
  • Cricopharyngeal spasm

Head and Neck (18 decks)

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