Head and Neck Anatomy Quiz

Anatomy of the Head and Neck

• The hyoid bone is located at the level of the 3rd cervical vertebrae and is the only bone in the body that does not articulate with another bone.
• The larynx, found in the anterior neck at the level of C3-C6, contains the vocal cords and connects the oropharynx with the trachea.
• Swallowing involves the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases, with the pharyngeal phase being autonomic and involving the elevation of the larynx and epiglottis to block the trachea.
• The temporomandibular joint is the most active joint in the human body.
• Muscles of mastication include the masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid, which elevate the mandible, and the lateral pterygoid, which depresses the mandible to open the mouth.
• Muscles of the neck are necessary for movement, chewing, swallowing, and facial expression, with flexion muscles including the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, and longissimus capitis.
• The platysma muscle, innervated by CNVIII, serves to tense the skin of the neck and is a muscle of facial expression.
• The orbit is a bony socket composed of seven bones that protect the eyeball from injury and contains various components such as the globe, extraocular muscles, eyelids, tear glands, and ducts.
• The globe is composed of three layers (tunics) with fluid and gel-like substances, and the outer layer includes the sclera, cornea, and conjunctiva.
• The middle layer of the globe, the vascular layer, includes the choroid, ciliary body, and iris, which control the size of the pupil.
• The inner layer of the globe is neural and includes the retina, which contains photoreceptors and associated neurons and fibers for vision.
• The eye movement involves the contraction of the extraocular muscles, which are innervated by specific cranial nerves, and the blood vessels of the eye, including the ophthalmic artery and veins, play a crucial role in supplying and draining blood from the eye.

Anatomy of the Face, Ear, and Mouth

• The inferior orbital fissure is an opening within each orbit formed by the maxillae and sphenoid bone.
• The infraorbital foramen is an opening under each orbit for the passage of infraorbital nerves and vessels.
• The alveolar margin is the oral margin of the maxillae that contains the upper teeth.
• The nose includes the external nose and nasal cavity and functions in smell, humidification, respiration, filtration, reception, and eliminating secretions through paranasal sinuses and nasolacrimal ducts.
• The external nose consists of cartilage and skin, with nerve supply from the trigeminal nerve (CNV1).
• The nasal cavities are divided by the nasal septum and lined with mucous membrane, featuring three projecting conchae (turbinates) for air cleansing and temperature control.
• Paranasal sinuses, including the ethmoid, sphenoid, frontal, and maxillary sinuses, lighten the weight of the skull and are palpable during physical exams.
• Olfaction involves the olfactory epithelium, olfactory nerves (CNI), bulbs, and tract, contributing to the sense of smell in the cerebrum.
• The ear is responsible for hearing and equilibrium and comprises the external, middle, and inner parts.
• The external ear consists of the auricle, external acoustic meatus, and tympanic membrane, while the middle ear amplifies sound and includes the auditory ossicles and the pharyngotympanic (Eustachian) tube for pressure equalization.
• The inner ear consists of the bony and membranous labyrinths, serving acoustic and vestibular functions for equilibrium.
• The lips and mouth are controlled by a series of muscles, with the oral cavity lined with mucous membrane and featuring openings for salivary gland ducts, innervated by the trigeminal nerve (CN V).

Anatomy of the Head and Neck

• The hyoid bone is located at the level of the 3rd cervical vertebrae and is the only bone in the body that does not articulate with another bone.
• The larynx, found in the anterior neck at the level of C3-C6, contains the vocal cords and connects the oropharynx with the trachea.
• Swallowing involves the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases, with the pharyngeal phase being autonomic and involving the elevation of the larynx and epiglottis to block the trachea.
• The temporomandibular joint is the most active joint in the human body.
• Muscles of mastication include the masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid, which elevate the mandible, and the lateral pterygoid, which depresses the mandible to open the mouth.
• Muscles of the neck are necessary for movement, chewing, swallowing, and facial expression, with flexion muscles including the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, and longissimus capitis.
• The platysma muscle, innervated by CNVIII, serves to tense the skin of the neck and is a muscle of facial expression.
• The orbit is a bony socket composed of seven bones that protect the eyeball from injury and contains various components such as the globe, extraocular muscles, eyelids, tear glands, and ducts.
• The globe is composed of three layers (tunics) with fluid and gel-like substances, and the outer layer includes the sclera, cornea, and conjunctiva.
• The middle layer of the globe, the vascular layer, includes the choroid, ciliary body, and iris, which control the size of the pupil.
• The inner layer of the globe is neural and includes the retina, which contains photoreceptors and associated neurons and fibers for vision.
• The eye movement involves the contraction of the extraocular muscles, which are innervated by specific cranial nerves, and the blood vessels of the eye, including the ophthalmic artery and veins, play a crucial role in supplying and draining blood from the eye.