Oral and Nasal Cavities, Pharynx, Larynx and Thyroid Flashcards
(35 cards)
what are the boundaries of the oral cavity
- from oral fissure (opening of lips) anteriorly to oropharyngeal isthmus posteriorly
- divided to vestibule (between cheeks and teeth) and mouth proper

what are the boundaries of the mouth proper?
- roof: hard and soft palate
- floor: muscular diaphragm (mylohyoid), geniohydoid muscle, tongue, salivary gland and duct
- lateral: cheeks- buccinator (facial n)
where is the hyoid?
C3
describe the structure of the hyoid
body, greater and lesser horns
what ligaments attach to hyoid?
- stylohyoid lig: from styloid process of temporal bone to lesser horn
- thyrohyoid: superior border of thryoid to post surface and greater horn
- hypoepiglottic: hyoid bone to the anterior aspect of the epiglottis.
what is the lingula of the mandible
- bony ridge surrounding the margin of the mandibular foramen
where is the thyroid cartilage
C4-C5
What is the structure of the thyroid cartilage?
- 2 sheets- laminae- joined anterior at laryngeal prominence- adams apple
- superior and inferior horns
- superior connected to hyoid by lateral thyrohoid lig
- inferior: cricothyroid ligament to cricoid carilage
what is the thyrohyoid membrane?
lateral and median thyrohyoid ligaments
where is the cricoid cartilage?
C6, inferior border of larynx
What is the structure of the cricoid cartilage
- complete ring of hyaline cartilage
- broad sheet posteriorly and narrow arch anteriorly
- sigent ring
- articulates with paired arytenoid cartilages posterioly

what is the epiglottis
- leaf shaped plate of elastic cartilage
- marks entrance to larynx
- stalk attaches to back of anterior aspect of thyroid cartilage
what are the arytenoid cartilages
- pyramidal shaped structures on cricoid cartilage
- apex: articulate with corniculate cartilage
- base: w/ superior border of cricoid
- 3 sides
- vocal process (anterior): attachment for vocal lig
- muscular process (posterior): attachment for posterior and lateral circoarytenoid muscle
- paired

what are the corniculate cartilages
- paired
- minor cartilaginous
- articulate with apices of arytenoid

what are the cuneiform cartilage
- pair
- in ary-epiglottic fold
- strength fold

what are the tracheal rings
- incomplete C shaped rings of cartilage that hold open the trachea
what is the hard palate?
where is it?
what bones make up the hard palate?
- horizontal bony plate
- anterior 2/3 of roof of oral cavity
- make of palatine process of maxilla and paired palatine bones
- separate oral and nasal cavity
what are the divisions of the pharynx
- nasopharynx: Base of skull to soft palate, continuous with nasal cavity, contains adenoid tonsils
- oropharynx: soft palate to superior border of epiglottis, post 1/3 of tongue, lingual tonsils at base of tongue, palatine tonsils, superior constrictpor muscle
- laryngopharynx: distal, superior border of epiglottis, inf border of cricoid, continuous with oesophagus

what is the pharyx and where is it
- muscular tube connecting oral and nasal cavity to larynx and oesophagus
- starts base of skull and ends at inferior border of cricoid cartilage C6
what is the larynx and where is it?
the organ of voice production, C3-C6
- connects inferior part of oropharynx with the trachea
what is the waldeyers ring
- ring of lymphoid tissue in naso- and oro-pharynx formed by paired palatine tonsils, adenoid and lingual tonsils

what are the muscles of the pharynx?
- circular: superior, middle and inferior constictors
- longitudinal: stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus

what is the function of the pharyngeal constrictors
- form incomplete muscular circle
- contract sequentially
- constrict lumen and propel food bolus inferiorly into oesophagus
what innervates the constrictor muscles
superior: pharyngeal branch of vagus nerve, pharyngeal plexus
middle and inferior: pharyngeal branch of vagus, pharyngeal plexus, external and recurrent laryngeal nerves

