SDL 2 - Face & Skull Flashcards
What are the three important groups of muscles in the head?
- Muscles of facial expression
- Muscles of mastication
- Extraocular muscles
Which nerve conveys cutaneous sensation from the face and forehead?
Trigeminal nerve
this is the 5th cranial nerve
Which division of the trigeminal nerve innervates which area of skin?

The divisions of the trigeminal nerve are:
- opthalmic branch
- maxillary branch
- mandibular branch

What are the important roles of the muscles of the face?
- Act as sphincters and dilators controlling the various openings
- Support the angles of the eyes and mouth
- Prevent secretions dribbling on to the face
- Play an important role in communication by changing the expression of the face
Label the important facial muscles


Which nerve innervates the muscles of facial expression?
Facial nerve
This is cranial nerve VII
What are the sensory and autonomic functions of the facial nerve?
Sensory:
- small area around the concha of the auricle
- Provides special taste sensation to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
Autonomic:
- Supplies many of the glands of the head and neck, including:
- submandibular and sublingual salivary glands
- nasal, palatine and pharyngeal mucous glands
- lacrimal glands
What is the main function of orbicularis oculi?
It is a circular muscle that acts as a sphincter around the eye
It functions in closing the eyelids

Which 2 muscles act as dilators of the eye?
Dilator pupillae:
- causes the pupil to dilate when it contracts
Iris dilator muscle:
- causes dilation of the pupil, allowing more light to enter the eye
What complication is associated with paralysis of orbicularis oculi?
Inability to close the eyes can lead to the eye drying out
This results in pain, and blindness in extreme cases
Which muscle acts as a sphincter of the mouth?
Orbicularis oris
It’s action is opposed by a number of dilator muscles
How does the function of the buccinator muscle vary in neonates and adults?
neonates:
- it is used to suckle
adults:
- it is used in whistling and smiling

How does buccinator aid the muscles of mastication?
It pulls back the angle of the mouth and flattens the cheek area to hold the cheek to the teeth during chewing
The muscle keeps food pushed back on the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth when a person chews
What is the function of the parotid gland?
What is its position like?
It is the largest of the paired salivary glands
It occupies the interval between the mastoid process and the origin of sternocleidomastoid muscle posteriorly, and the ramus of the mandible , which it overlaps anteriorly
What covers the parotid gland?
It lies within the fascial parotid sheath
this is continuous with the investing fascia of the neck
Where is the parotid gland located?


In which condition does the parotid gland become swollen?
Why is it extremely painful?
Mumps
Swelling of the parotid gland is known as parotitis
it is painful as the parotid gland is invested in innervated fascia
What is the main function of the parotid duct?
Where does it open in the mouth?
It carries secretions from the parotid gland into the mouth
It passes through the buccinator muscle and opens into the vestibule of the mouth at the parotid papilla
This is the region between the cheek and the gums which lies across the second superior molar tooth

Which cranial nerve divides into its five terminal branches within the substance of the parotid gland?
Facial nerve
it divides the parotid gland into superficial and deep lobes
it lies superficially within the gland so is vulnerable to damage

In which two situations is the facial nerve (within the parotid gland) vulnerable to damage?
- Fracture of the temporal bone of the skull
- Benign or malignant tumours close to, or compressing, the facial nerve
What are the 5 branches of the facial nerve?
What (in general) do they supply?

Temporal branches:
- innervate frontalis, orbicularis oculi and corrugator supercilli
Zygomatic branches:
- innervate the orbicularis oculi
Buccal branches:
- innervate orbicularis oris, buccinator and zygomaticus
Marginal mandibular branches:
- innervates the mentalis
Cervical branch:
- innervates the platysma

What other 2 important structures lie within the substance of the parotid gland?
- Retromandibular vein
- External carotid artery
this is deep to the retromandibular vein, and divides into its 2 terminal branches within the substance of the parotid gland
What are the 2 terminal branches of the external carotid artery?
- Superficial temporal artery
- Maxillary artery

What are the branches of the external carotid artery?



































