H&N: Nose & Larynx Flashcards
(52 cards)
Which bones in the facial skeleton are more susceptible to fracture?
- Nasal bone due to prominence
- Zygomatic bone
- Mandible
How the pituitary gland be accessed?
Through the nasal cavity through the sphenoid
What is a septal hematoma?
- Cartilaginous part of the septum takes blood supply from the overlying perichondrium
- Trauma to nose can lead to buckling of the septum and shearing of blood vessels
- Blood accumulates between the perichondrium and cartilage
- This leads to less blood supply to cartilage
What is the effect of untreated septal haematoma?
- Avascular necrosis of cartilaginous septum
- Saddling of nasal dorsum
- Can develop infection in the collecting haematoma
- Septal abscess formation further increases likelihood of avascular necrosis of septum
What are nasal polyps?
- Swelling of nasal mucosa
- Usually bilateral
- Pale or yellow in appliance/fleshy and reddened
What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?
- Blocked nose and watery rhinorrhoea
- Post nasal drip
- Decreased smell and reduced taste
- Unilateral polyp +/- blood tinged secretion may suggest tumour
What is rhinitis?
-Inflammation of the nasal mucosal lining
What are symptoms of rhinitis?
- Nasal congestion
- Rhinorrhoea
- Sneezing
- Nasal irritation
- Post nasal drip
What are common causes of rhinitis?
- Acute infective rhinitis (common cold)
- Allergic rhinitis
What is epistaxis?
Nose bleed
-Mucosa and blood vessels easily injured
Which branches does the arterial supply to the nasal cavity arise from?
- Ophthalmic artery
- Maxillary artery
What is formed in the anterior septum?
Arterial anastomoses (Kiesselbach's area) -Most common source of bleeding in epistaxis
What is the relevance of the venous drainage from the nasal cavity?
- Pterygoid venous plexus
- Cavernous sinus
- Facial vein
This means infection can spread intracranially
What arteries supply blood to nasal cavity?
- Anterior ethmoidal
- Posterior ethmoidal
- Sphenopalatine artery
Which type of epistaxis is potentially more serious?
- Bleeding from the sphenopalatine artery
- Potentially more serious and difficult to treat
What are paranasal sinuses?
- Air filled extensions of nasal cavity which are lined by respiratory mucosa
- Helps to humidify and warm inspired air
- Drain into the nasal cavity via mall channels called Ostia into the meatus
What is acute sinusitis?
-Acute inflammation of lining of sinus. Commonly infective and often secondary to viral infection of nasal cavity
What are symptoms of acute sinusitis?
- Non resolving cold or flu like illness
- Pyrexia
- Blocked nose and rhinorrhoea (yellow/green discharge)
- Headache/facial pain
What is the pathophysiology of acute sinusitis?
- Primary infection leads to reduced ciliary function, oedema of nasal mucosa and sinus Ostia and increased nasal secretions
- Drainage from sinus is obstructed
- Stagnant secretion within the sinus become ideal breading ground for bacteria (secondary infection)
- Caused by dental infections and respiratory infections.
How can the cricothyroid membrane be used in an emergency?
-Emergency access to provide patent airway for the patient
What forms the vocal and vestibular ligament?
- Quadrangular membrane forms the vestibular ligament
- Upper free border of cricothyroid ligament-thickened edge forming the vocal ligament
What is found between the vestibular and vocal folds?
Ventricle which leads laterally and upwards into the saccule. Contains mucus glands that keep vocal folds moist
What is the epithelium lining of the larynx?
Pseudo-stratified ciliated columnar epithelium
-Stratified squamous epithelium on the true vocal cord lining
What is the purpose of the laryngeal muscles?
- Closing of the larynx during swallowing to protect the respiratory tract
- Act to open larynx and allow movement of air during inspiration and expiration
- Control movement of vocal cords in phonation and in cough reflex
