What action does the genioglossus muscle perform?
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Depresses the central part of the tongue and protrudes the anterior part out of the oral fissure.
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What action does the genioglossus muscle perform?
Depresses the central part of the tongue and protrudes the anterior part out of the oral fissure.
What is the origin of the genioglossus muscle?
Attached to the front to the protrusions of the mandible (superior mental spines).
What are the two main components of the oral cavity?
The oral vestibule and the oral cavity proper.
How does the nasopalatine nerve enter the nasal cavity?
Through the incisor foramen between the incisor teeth.
Which nerve provides the major motor supply to the pharynx?
The pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve.
What is the function of the palatoglossus muscle?
Helps to close the oropharyngeal isthmus and separate the oral cavity from the oropharynx.
Which nerve innervates the palatoglossus muscle?
Vagus nerve.
What is the primary function of the muscles of the soft palate?
To control the entry of food into the pharynx and aid in breaking down food.
What is the primary action of the styloglossus muscle?
Retracts the tongue.
Which muscles ascend into the palate from the tongue and pharynx?
Palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus.
What connects the oral cavity to the pharynx?
The oropharynx.
What is the sensory innervation for the anterior 2/3 of the tongue?
Lingual nerve (V3) for general sensation and chorda tympani for taste.
What are the three divisions of the pharynx?
Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.
What action does the Palatopharyngeus muscle perform when the palate is stationary?
Pulls the pharynx upwards.
How many muscles make up the soft palate?
Four muscles: tensor veli palatini, levator veli palatini, palatopharyngeus, and uvular muscle.
What is the function of the superior constrictor during swallowing?
It forms a prominent ridge that catches the margin of the elevated soft palate.
What does the lesser palatine nerve supply?
The soft palate mucosa.
What nerves are lateral to the hyoglossus muscle?
Lingual and hypoglossal nerves.
What supplies the lower pharynx with arterial blood?
Pharyngeal branches from the inferior thyroid artery (thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery).
Why is the pharyngeal recess clinically significant?
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually develops in this region and is difficult to detect.
What glands occupy the floor of the oral cavity?
The sublingual and submandibular glands.
Which muscles are involved in opening the pharyngotympanic tube?
Tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini.
What nerve supplies the interior of the hard palate?
The nasopalatine nerve (sphenopalatine nerve) from the maxillary nerve.
What is the oral vestibule?
The slit-like space between the lips and cheeks superficially and the teeth and gingivae deeply.
What action does the hyoglossus muscle perform?
Pulls the tongue downwards and posteriorly.
Where does food commonly get trapped during swallowing?
In the vallecula of the epiglottis, piriform fossa, palatine tonsils, and pharyngeal recess.
What artery is medial to the hyoglossus muscle?
Lingual artery.
How can the function of the levator veli palatini be clinically tested?
By asking a patient to say 'ah' and observing if the palate elevates evenly.
Which nerve primarily innervates the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue?
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), except for palatoglossus.
Where are palatine tonsils located?
On each side of the oropharynx between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches.
What does the lingual nerve supply?
The mucosa of the floor, anterior 2/3 of the tongue, and gum of mandibular teeth.
What is the function of the pharyngotympanic tube?
It allows air to communicate between the nasal cavity and the middle ear.
Which nerve innervates the pharyngeal constrictors?
Vagus nerve.
What does the greater palatine nerve supply?
The gingivae, mucous membrane, and glands of the hard palate.
What does the glossopharyngeal nerve innervate in the pharynx?
The stylopharyngeus muscle.
What happens to the inferior constrictor during swallowing?
It relaxes to open the passage to the esophagus.
What is the primary action of the levator veli palatini?
To elevate the soft palate and seal off the nasopharynx.
Which nerve supplies the posterior 1/3 of the tongue?
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).
What is the primary function of extrinsic muscles of the tongue?
To alter the position of the tongue.
What are tubal tonsils?
Extensions of pharyngeal tonsils near the pharyngeal orifice of the pharyngotympanic tube.
How does the sublingual gland discharge saliva?
Through minor holes in the mucosa, without obvious ducts.
What is the clinical significance of the soft palate and its muscles?
They are closely associated with the auricular tube, helping to balance pressure in the middle ear.
What are the three pharyngeal constrictors?
Superior constrictor, middle constrictor, and inferior constrictor.
Which muscles descend into the palate from the base of the skull?
Tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini.
What role does the buccinator muscle play in the oral cavity?
It prevents food from accumulating in the vestibule.
What type of nerve is the maxillary nerve?
It is purely sensory.
What are the two parts of the tongue divided by?
A V-shaped sulcus.
What is the uvula?
A conical process hanging from the free margin of the soft palate, formed by the expanded tendon of the tensor veli palatine.
Where does the submandibular duct open?
On the summit of a small sublingual papilla beside the base of the frenulum of the tongue.
How can the integrity of the hypoglossal nerve be tested?
By asking the patient to stick out their tongue and observing for deviation towards the affected side.
What is the oral cavity proper?
The space posterior and medial to the upper and lower dental arches.
What sensory supply does the nasopalatine nerve provide?
Sensory supply to the nasal cavity and the gingivae of maxillary teeth.
What is the function of the Musculus uvulae?
Elevates and retracts the uvula.
What occupies the oral cavity when the mouth is closed and at rest?
The tongue.
What are the internal longitudinal muscles of the pharynx?
Palatopharyngeus, stylopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus.
What happens to food during swallowing in relation to the piriform fossa?
Food must pass through the piriform fossa, which is covered during swallowing.
Where is the sublingual gland located in relation to the submandibular gland?
Anterior to the submandibular gland on the floor of the oral cavity.
What type of muscle composes the wall of the pharynx?
Voluntary muscle arranged into external circular and internal longitudinal layers.
Which nerve innervates the Palatopharyngeus muscle?
Vagus nerve (pharyngeal branch to the pharyngeal plexus).
What structures are landmarked by the hyoglossus muscle?
Lingual artery, hypoglossal nerve, and lingual nerve.
What is the innervation of the tensor veli palatini?
Mandibular nerve (V3) via the nerve to the medial pterygoid.
What is the arterial supply for the upper pharynx?
Ascending pharyngeal artery, ascending palatine and tonsillar branches of the facial artery, and branches from maxillary and lingual arteries.
What forms the roof of the oral cavity?
The hard and soft palate.
Which nerve innervates the stylopharyngeus muscle?
Glossopharyngeal nerve.
Where are pharyngeal tonsils located?
In the mucous membrane of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx.
What is the relationship between the lingual nerve and the submandibular ganglion?
The lingual nerve is associated with the submandibular ganglion, which carries parasympathetic fibers to the salivary glands.
What is the function of the Palatopharyngeus muscle during swallowing?
Elevates the pharynx.
What branches arise from the maxillary nerve for sensory supply?
What structures do the Palatoglossal arches define?
The lateral margins of the oropharyngeal isthmus.
What is the unique function of the inferior constrictor?
It constricts to close the opening between the pharynx and esophagus when no food is passing through.
Where do sensory nerve fibers pass through in relation to the maxillary nerve?
They pass through the pterygopalatine ganglion.
What covers the hyoglossus muscle superficially?
Mylohyoid muscle.
What is the incisive fossa?
A slight depression posterior to the central incisor teeth, allowing passage of nasopalatine nerves.
What aids in peristaltic waves to move food forward in the pharynx?
Superior, middle, and inferior constrictor muscles.
What is the origin and attachment of the Palatopharyngeus muscle?
Originates from the palate and attaches to the wall of the pharynx.
Where does the styloglossus muscle originate?
From the anterior surface of the styloid processes of the temporal bones.
What is the role of the Palatoglossus muscle?
Pulls the tongue up towards the palate.
Where is the middle constrictor attached?
To the greater horn of the hyoid bone.
What do the anterior and middle alveolar nerves supply?
They descend through the maxilla and supply the maxillary sinus as well.
Where does the levator veli palatini originate?
From the petrous part of the temporal bone.
What is Waldeyer’s Ring?
A collection of lymphoid tissue along the pharynx facing the nasal and oral cavities.
What separates the deep and superficial parts of the submandibular gland?
The free margin/edge of the mylohyoid muscle.
What is the sensory nerve supply to the palate?
It is supplied by the maxillary nerve (V2).
What is the main motor supply of the pharynx?
Branches of the vagus nerve and glossopharyngeal nerves, forming a pharyngeal plexus.
Which nerve enters the orbit through the inferior orbital fissure?
The infra-orbital nerve.
What is the function of the tensor veli palatini?
To tense the soft palate and open the pharyngotympanic tube during yawning and swallowing.
What is the role of the internal longitudinal muscles during swallowing?
They elevate the larynx, pharyngeal wall, and shorten the pharynx to push food into the esophagus.
What is the piriform fossa?
A space in the laryngopharynx that directs solids and liquids from the oral cavity to the esophagus.
What nerve enters the oral cavity from the infratemporal fossa?
The lingual nerve.
Where does the tonsillar artery pass through?
Through the superior constrictor muscle to enter the inferior pole of the tonsil.
What is the pharyngeal recess?
A space posterior to the bulge formed by the opening of the pharyngotympanic tube.
What separates the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue?
A fibrous lingual septum.
Where is the submandibular gland located?
Outside the mylohyoid muscle (superficial part).
What is the function of the soft palate?
To guard the opening of the oropharynx and separate the nasopharynx from the oropharynx.
What are lingual tonsils?
Numerous lymphoid nodules on the posterior one-third of the tongue.
