Throat Anatomy and Physiology

Question 1

Describe the 2 parts of the oral cavity

Answer 1

1. The oral vestibule - The area between the lips and teeth

2. Oral cavity proper

Question 2

Describe the boundaries of the oral cavity

Answer 2

Lips to the glossopalatine arch (anterior arch)
Palate to the floor of the mouth
Buccal mucosa

Question 3

Where in the mouth does the parotid gland open into?

Answer 3

Opposite the 2nd maxillary molars

Question 4

Where does the submandibular duct lie?

Answer 4

Lies superior to the digastric muscle

Question 5

What does the lingual nerve provide inervation to and what is it a branch of?

Answer 5

Supplies the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue and is a branch of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve

Question 6

What does the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue develop from?

Answer 6

The 1st branchial arch

Question 7

Which nerves provide general sensation and taste sensation to the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue?

Answer 7

General sensation - Lingual nerve a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve
Taste sensation - Chorda tympani which is a branch of the facial nerve

Question 8

What does the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue develop from?

Answer 8

The 3rd Bbranchial arch

Question 9

Which nerves provide general sensation and taste sensation to the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue?

Answer 9

The Glossopharyngeal nerve ( Cr N. IX) provides both general sensation and taste sensation

Question 10

What are the 4 types of taste buds and describe them?

Answer 10

Fungiform papillae - Scattered across the dorsum of the tongue
Filiform papillae - Most numerous but do not contain tatste buds
Folliate papillae
Circumvallate papillae - Found just anterior to the sulcus terminalis

Question 11

What are the muscles of the tongue?

Answer 11

Intrinsic muscles - Change shape of the tongue
Extrinsic muscles - Change the position of the tongue
- Genioglossus
- Styloglossus
- Hyoglossus
- Palatoglossus

Question 12

Describe the nerve supply to the muscles of the tongue

Answer 12

All muscles of the tongue are innervated by the Hypoglossal nerve (Cr N XII) except for the palatoglossus muscle which is innervated by the Pharyngeal plexus (Cr N IX-X)

Question 13

Name the muscles of mastication

Answer 13

Later & Medial Pterygoids
Masseter
Temporalis

Question 14

What is the nerve supply to the muscles of mastication?

Answer 14

All 4 muscles are supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve

Question 15

What is the nerve supply of the oropharynx?

Answer 15

The Pharyngeal plexus (Cr N IX-X)

Question 16

What is the nerve supply of the hypopharynx?

Answer 16

The Pharyngeal plexus (Cr N IX-X)

Question 17

What are the 3 parts of swallowing?

Answer 17

Oral phase - Voluntary
Pharyngeal phase - Autonomic
Oesophageal phase - Autonomic

Question 18

What are the 3 parts of the layrnx?

Answer 18

Supraglottis
Glottis
Subglottic

Question 19

What is the nerve supply to the larynx for motor and sensory innervation?

Answer 19

Motor innervation is supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve a branch of the vagus nerve (Cr N X) except for the cricothyroid which is supplied by the external laryngeal nerve
Sensory innervation in the supraglottis is via the internal laryngeal nerve while the glottis and the and subglottic are supplied by the recurent layngeal nerve