Head and Neck

Question 1

Which major artery supplies blood to the head and neck?

Answer 1

The common carotid artery.

Question 2

Into which vessels does the common carotid bifurcate?

Answer 2

Internal and external carotid arteries.

Question 3

Which vein is a major venous return pathway from the head?

Answer 3

The internal jugular vein.

Question 4

Where does the external carotid artery primarily supply?

Answer 4

The face and external structures of the head.

Question 5

Which vein lies superficial to the sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 5

The external jugular vein.

Question 6

What is the largest salivary gland?

Answer 6

The parotid gland.

Question 7

Which salivary gland lies beneath the jaw angle?

Answer 7

The submandibular gland.

Question 8

Which gland lies under the tongue?

Answer 8

The sublingual gland.

Question 9

Which cranial nerve innervates the parotid gland?

Answer 9

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) via the otic ganglion.

Question 10

Which duct drains the parotid gland into the oral cavity?

Answer 10

Stensen’s duct.

Question 11

Which joint connects the jaw to the skull?

Answer 11

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Question 12

Which bone articulates with the temporal bone at the TMJ?

Answer 12

The mandible.

Question 13

What type of joint is the TMJ?

Answer 13

A modified hinge joint.

Question 14

Which cranial nerve provides sensory innervation to the TMJ?

Answer 14

The mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3).

Question 15

What is a common symptom of TMJ dysfunction?

Answer 15

Jaw pain or clicking.

Question 16

Which cranial nerve provides facial sensation?

Answer 16

The trigeminal nerve (CN V).

Question 17

What are the three branches of the trigeminal nerve?

Answer 17

Ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3).

Question 18

Which branch of CN V provides sensation to the forehead?

Answer 18

The ophthalmic branch (V1).

Question 19

Which branch of CN V supplies sensation to the upper jaw?

Answer 19

The maxillary branch (V2).

Question 20

Which branch of CN V supplies sensation to the lower jaw?

Answer 20

The mandibular branch (V3).

Question 21

What are the two main triangles of the neck?

Answer 21

The anterior and posterior triangles.

Question 22

Which muscle divides the neck into these triangles?

Answer 22

The sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Question 23

What major structure lies in the carotid triangle?

Answer 23

The carotid artery bifurcation.

Question 24

Which triangle contains the cervical lymph nodes?

Answer 24

The anterior triangle (submandibular and carotid subdivisions).

Question 25

Which nerve crosses the posterior triangle?

Answer 25

The accessory nerve (CN XI).

Question 26

Where are superficial cervical lymph nodes located?

Answer 26

Along the external jugular vein.

Question 27

Where are deep cervical lymph nodes found?

Answer 27

Along the internal jugular vein, deep to SCM.

Question 28

Which nodes drain the scalp and face?

Answer 28

Superficial cervical lymph nodes.

Question 29

Which nodes receive lymph from the tongue and floor of mouth?

Answer 29

Submandibular lymph nodes.

Question 30

Why is palpation of cervical lymph nodes important?

Answer 30

They can indicate infection or malignancy.

Question 31

What thin layers enclose and compartmentalize neck structures?

Answer 31

The cervical fascia.

Question 32

What are the major fascial layers in the neck?

Answer 32

Superficial and deep cervical fascia.

Question 33

Why are these fascial planes clinically significant?

Answer 33

They guide the spread of infections.

Question 34

Which space in the neck can allow deep infections to travel to the mediastinum?

Answer 34

The retropharyngeal space.

Question 35

Which fascia surrounds the thyroid gland?

Answer 35

The pretracheal fascia.

Question 36

Which bone forms the forehead?

Answer 36

The frontal bone.

Question 37

Which bones form the sides and roof of the skull?

Answer 37

The parietal bones.

Question 38

Which bone forms the back and base of the skull?

Answer 38

The occipital bone.

Question 39

Which bone is butterfly-shaped and houses the pituitary?

Answer 39

The sphenoid bone.

Question 40

Which bone forms part of the base and lateral skull walls?

Answer 40

The temporal bone.

Question 41

Which suture separates the frontal and parietal bones?

Answer 41

The coronal suture.

Question 42

Which suture runs between the two parietal bones?

Answer 42

The sagittal suture.

Question 43

Which suture separates the occipital from parietals?

Answer 43

The lambdoid suture.

Question 44

Which large opening at the skull base transmits the spinal cord?

Answer 44

The foramen magnum.

Question 45

Which opening in the sphenoid transmits the optic nerve?

Answer 45

The optic canal.

Question 46

Which cranial nerve innervates muscles of facial expression?

Answer 46

The facial nerve (CN VII).

Question 47

Which muscle closes the eyelids tightly?

Answer 47

The orbicularis oculi muscle.

Question 48

Which muscle is the primary cheek muscle aiding in blowing?

Answer 48

The buccinator muscle.

Question 49

Which muscle elevates the jaw for chewing?

Answer 49

The masseter muscle.

Question 50

Which muscle raises the eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead?

Answer 50

The frontalis muscle.

Question 51

Which muscle draws the mouth corners upward as in smiling?

Answer 51

The zygomaticus major muscle.

Question 52

Which superficial neck muscle tenses the skin of the neck?

Answer 52

The platysma muscle.

Question 53

What is the white outer layer of the eye called?

Answer 53

The sclera.

Question 54

What transparent structure refracts light entering the eye?

Answer 54

The cornea.

Question 55

Which layer contains rods and cones?

Answer 55

The retina.

Question 56

Which cranial nerve carries visual information?

Answer 56

The optic nerve (CN II).

Question 57

What muscles control eye movement in different directions?

Answer 57

The extraocular muscles.

Question 58

What structure adjusts the lens shape for focusing?

Answer 58

The ciliary body.

Question 59

Where in the retina is visual acuity highest?

Answer 59

The fovea.

Question 60

Which muscle elevates the upper eyelid?

Answer 60

The levator palpebrae superioris.

Question 61

What external structure collects and directs sound waves?

Answer 61

The auricle (pinna).

Question 62

What membrane separates the outer and middle ear?

Answer 62

The tympanic membrane.

Question 63

What are the three tiny bones in the middle ear called?

Answer 63

The malleus, incus, and stapes.

Question 64

What spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear detects sound?

Answer 64

The cochlea.

Question 65

Which cranial nerve transmits auditory signals?

Answer 65

The vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII).

Question 66

What structures detect rotational movements of the head?

Answer 66

The semicircular canals.

Question 67

Which tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx?

Answer 67

The Eustachian (auditory) tube.

Question 68

Where is the thyroid gland located?

Answer 68

Anterior to the trachea.

Question 69

Which artery supplies the upper thyroid region?

Answer 69

The superior thyroid artery.

Question 70

How many parathyroid glands are typically present?

Answer 70

Usually four.

Question 71

Where are the parathyroid glands located?

Answer 71

On the posterior thyroid surface.

Question 72

What hormone do parathyroid glands secrete?

Answer 72

Parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Question 73

Over which tracheal rings is the thyroid isthmus found?

Answer 73

Usually over rings 2-4.

Question 74

What action helps palpate the thyroid?

Answer 74

Swallowing moves it up and down.

Question 75

What is the upper part of the pharynx behind the nose?

Answer 75

The nasopharynx.

Question 76

What structure prevents food from entering the airway?

Answer 76

The epiglottis.

Question 77

What is the largest laryngeal cartilage?

Answer 77

The thyroid cartilage.

Question 78

What structures produce sound in the larynx?

Answer 78

The vocal folds.

Question 79

Which muscles rotate and flex the neck?

Answer 79

The sternocleidomastoid muscles.

Question 80

Which muscle group elevates the hyoid during swallowing?

Answer 80

The suprahyoid muscles.

Question 81

What nerve innervates most laryngeal muscles?

Answer 81

The recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Question 82

Which part of the pharynx is common to food and air?

Answer 82

The oropharynx.