Pharynx & larynx

Question 1

What are the 3 parts of the pharynx & what are their borders?

Answer 1

Nasopharynx - choanae to lower border of soft palate
Oropharynx - lower border of soft palate to superior border of epiglottis
Larnygopharynx - superior border of epiglottis to cricopharyngeal sphincter (top of oesophagus)

Question 2

What are the two muscles on the soft palate & what do they do?

Answer 2

• Tensor veli palatini - stretches palate

- Levator veli palatini - moves palate up & down to seal off nasal cavity when swallowing

Question 3

How many pharyngeal constrictors are there and what are their names?

Answer 3

3 - superior, middle, inferior

Question 4

What is the motor innervation of the constrictors & how do the contract?

Answer 4

CNX

From superior to inferior - peristaltic action

Question 5

When testing the gag reflex, what nerves are you looking at for what?

Answer 5

CNIX for sensitivity

CNX for motor

Question 6

What is a pharyngeal diverticulum?

Answer 6

At the weak spot where muscle fibres change direction, • mucosa can pop out backwards to form a pouch.
If food gets stuck here, decomposes & gives bad breath & bad taste in mouth. Food can be ejected when coughing

Question 7

What are the internal muscles of the pharynx?

Answer 7

• Tensor & levator veli palatinis
• Salpingopharyngeus
• Palatopharyngeaus
• Stylopharyngeus

Question 8

What does the salpingopharyngeal muscle do?

Answer 8

Contracts during swallow to open eustacian tube & equalise pressure

Question 9

What is the innervation to internal muscles of the pharynx?

Answer 9

All pharyngeal muscles innervated by CN X, except stylopharyngeus (CNIX) + tensor veli palatini (CNV)

Question 10

What can damage to CN X or Vc cause?

Answer 10

Ipsilateral soft palate paralysis

Question 11

What sits at the back of the oral cavity?

Answer 11

• Uvula - bit that hangs down
• Palato arches – formed by muscles from soft palate to tongue or pharynx
• Palatine tonsil between the two muscles

Question 12

What are the functions of the larynx?

Answer 12

• Guard entrance to tracheobronchial tree
• Prevent ingress of fluids & solids
• Allows regulation of intrathoracic & intra-abdominal pressure (valsalva manoeuvre)
• Enable phonation – production of sound
• Speech articulation control by pharynx, tongue & lips

Question 13

What sits at C3?

Answer 13

Hyoid - U-shaped piece of cartilage

Question 14

What sits at C4?

Answer 14

Thyroid cartilage

Question 15

What sits at C5?

Answer 15

Laryngeal prominence

Question 16

What sits at C6/7?

Answer 16

Cricothyroid cartilage

Question 17

What can the cricothyroid membrane be used for?

Answer 17

Cricothyrotomy - emergency airway

Question 18

What sort of joint is the inferior horn?

Answer 18

Synovial joint

Question 19

What is the arytenoid?

Answer 19

Piece of cartilage where bits point up, forward & laterally.
Vocal folds attach here

Question 20

What are the two strong membranes covered in respiratory mucosa?

Answer 20

• Aryepiglottic (quadrangular) membrane

- Cricovocal membrane

Question 21

What happens when the aryepiglottic fold contracts?

Answer 21

Shrinks lumen to protect airway

Question 22

What are the muscles of the larynx?

Answer 22

• Cricothyroid muscle - lengthen vocal cords - increase pitch
• Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle - adducts vocal ligaments - airway protection
• Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle - abducts vocal ligaments- allows breathing
• Thyroarytenoid & vocalis - fine pitch control

Question 23

All motor & sensory nerve supply to the pharynx is by which cranial nerve

Answer 23

CNX - via two branches - superior & recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 24

What is the nerve supply to the muscles of the larynx?

Answer 24

All innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve, except cricothryoid muscle by superior.