Throat Physiology

Question 1

Name the boundaries of the mouth

Answer 1

Lips to palatoglossal arch, palate to floor of mouth, buccal mucosa

Question 2

What glands lie on the floor of the mouth?

Answer 2

Sublingual and Submandibular

Question 3

What branchial arch does the anterior 2/3 of the tongue arise from?

Answer 3

1st Branchial Arch

Question 4

What branchial arch does the posterior 1/3 of the tongue arise from?

Answer 4

3rd Branchial Arch

Question 5

What provides somatic innervation to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue?

Answer 5

Lingual Nerve

Question 6

What nerve provides the sensation of taste to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue?

Answer 6

Chorda Tympani of Facial Nerves

Question 7

What is the posterior 1/3 of the tongue innervated by?

Answer 7

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Question 8

What are the four external muscles of the tongue?

Answer 8

Genioglossus, styloglossus, hyoglossus and palatoglossus

Question 9

What nerve supplies the genioglossus, the styloglossus and hyoglossus?

Answer 9

Hypoglossal nerve

Question 10

What is the palatoglossus supplied by?

Answer 10

The Pharyngeal Plexus

Question 11

Name the boundaries of the oropharynx

Answer 11

Lower border of soft palate to upper margin of epiglottis, palatoglossal arch to posterior pharyngeal wall, faucial pillars and palatine tonsils

Question 12

What kind of epithelium lines the oropharynx?

Answer 12

Stratified, non-keratinised squamous

Question 13

What nerves innervate the oropharynx?

Answer 13

Pharyngeal Plexus

Question 14

What are the boundaries of the hypopharynx ?

Answer 14

Superior margin of the epiglottis to lower border of the cricoid cartilage, continuous with oesophagus, back of larynx

Question 15

What supplies the hypopharynx?

Answer 15

The pharyngeal plexus

Question 16

What is the function of the larynx?

Answer 16

Respiration, voice and swallowing

Question 17

Name the three parts of the glottis?

Answer 17

Supraglottis, glottis and subglottic regions

Question 18

How is the larynx innervated?

Answer 18

Motor - CNX

Sensory - Inter Laryngeal Nerve (supraglottic) and recurrent laryngeal nerve (glottic and subglottic)

Question 19

Describe the oral phase of swallowing

Answer 19

Tongue propels bolus into pharynx and triggers swallowing reflex

Question 20

Describe the pharyngeal phase of swallowing

Answer 20

Soft palate is pulled upwards, epiglottis covers the larynx, larynx moves upward and UOS relaxes. Respiration is inhibited

Question 21

Describe the oesophageal phase of swallowing

Answer 21

Bolus passes UOS and sphincter constricts. Bolus propelleed downwards by peristaltic motion

Question 22

Describe the respiration stage of voice production

Answer 22

Inhalation and exhalation produce an air flow

Question 23

Describe the phonation stage of voice production

Answer 23

Air flow through different VC position, tension, vibration and length

Question 24

Describe resonation

Answer 24

Oral/nasal balance which is dependent on nasopharynx, nasal cavity and oral cavity

Question 25

Describe articulation

Answer 25

Production of speech, determined by action of lips, tongue and jaw

Question 26

Describe Prosody

Answer 26

Production of syllable stress and emphasis. Provides effective speech tone