LEC 1: Anatomy of Oral cavity and Pharynx

By/Ahmed Elkerdawy

1. What is the oropharyngeal isthmus?

a) The junction between the mouth and stomach
b) The junction between the mouth and pharynx
c) The junction between the mouth and nasal cavity
d) The junction between the mouth and esophagus

2. Which structure forms the superior boundary of the oral cavity proper?
a) Tongue b) Palate c) Teeth and gums d) Lips

3. What is the anterior boundary of the oral vestibule?

a) Cheeks b) Teeth and gums c) Lips d) Palate

4. Which muscle forms the floor of the mouth?

a) Masseter b) Mylohyoid c) Buccinator d) Temporalis

5. What is the function of the frenulum in the oral cavity?

a) Connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth
b) Connects the lips to the cheeks
c) Connects the palate to the pharynx
d) Connects the teeth to the gums

6. Which gland's opening is located on each side of the frenulum?

a) Parotid gland b) Submandibular gland
c) Sublingual gland d) Thyroid gland

7. What is the posterior boundary of the oral cavity proper?

a) Teeth and gums b) Opening into the pharynx c) Palate d) Tongue

8. Which structure produces a rounded ridge extending backward and laterally from the papilla?
a) Submandibular gland b) Sublingual gland
c) Parotid gland d) Thyroid gland

9. What is the philtrum?

a) A horizontal groove on the lower lip
b) A shallow vertical groove on the outer surface of the upper lip
c) A fold connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth
d) A ridge on the palate

10. What are the labial frenulae?

a) Folds connecting the lips to the gums
b) Folds connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth
c) Folds connecting the cheeks to the teeth
d) Folds connecting the palate to the pharynx

1-b 2-b 3-c 4-b 5-a 6-b 7-b 8-b 9-b 10-a
 11. What is the corner where the upper and lower lips meet called?
a) Philtrum b) Commissure c) Frenulum d) Papilla

12. Which layer of the lips contains hair follicles and sebaceous glands?
a) Superficial fascia b) Orbicularis oris c) Skin d) Submucosa

13. Which muscle acts as a sphincter in the lips?

a) Buccinator b) Orbicularis oris c) Mylohyoid d) Masseter

14. What is the hardest substance in the human body?

a) Dentine b) Pulp c) Enamel d) Bone

15. Which part of the tooth contains microscopic tubes?

a) Enamel b) Dentine c) Pulp d) Cementum

16. What is the function of the buccinator muscle?

a) To move the tongue
b) To keep food between the teeth when chewing
c) To close the nasal cavity
d) To produce saliva

17. Where is the opening of the parotid gland duct located?

a) Opposite the lower 1st molar tooth
b) Opposite the upper 2nd molar tooth
c) On the frenulum
d) On the philtrum

18. What is the outer epithelial layer of the gingiva composed of?
a) Non-keratinized epithelium
b) Keratinized epithelium
c) Connective tissue
d) Muscle fibers

19. Which nerve supplies the sensory innervation to the roof of the oral cavity?
a) Lingual nerve
b) Buccal nerve
c) Greater palatine and nasopalatine nerves
d) Glossopharyngeal nerve

20. Which nerve supplies the motor innervation to the buccinator muscle?
a) Facial nerve
b) Mandibular nerve
c) Hypoglossal nerve
d) Glossopharyngeal nerve

11-b 12-c 13-b 14-c 15-b 16-b 17-b 18-b 19-c 20-a
 21. What divides the tongue into right and left halves?
a) Sulcus terminalis b) Median septum c) Frenulum d) Foramen cecum

22. Which part of the tongue is called the pharyngeal part?

a) Anterior ⅔
b) Posterior ⅓
c) Root
d) Dorsal surface

23. What is the function of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

a) Move the tongue from side to side b) Alter the shape of the tongue
c) Connect the tongue to the floor of the mouth d) Produce saliva

24. Which papillae are located at the tip and margins of the tongue?
a) Filiform papillae
b) Fungiform papillae
c) Vallate papillae
d) Lingual papillae

25. What is the embryological remnant marked by the foramen cecum?

a) Thyroglossal duct b) Lingual tonsils c) Frenulum d) Sulcus terminalis

26. Which nerve carries taste sensation from the anterior ⅔ of the tongue?
a) Lingual nerve
b) Chorda tympani
c) Glossopharyngeal nerve
d) Hypoglossal nerve

27. What is the function of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

a) Alter the shape of the tongue
b) Move the tongue in different directions
c) Connect the tongue to the floor of the mouth
d) Produce saliva

28. Which extrinsic muscle of the tongue originates from the hyoid bone?
a) Genioglossus b) Hyoglossus c) Styloglossus d) Palatoglossus

29. What is the action of the genioglossus muscle when both muscles act together?
a) Retraction of the tongue b) Protrusion of the tongue
c) Depression of the tongue d) Elevation of the tongue

30. Which muscle is responsible for retraction and elevation of the tongue during swallowing?
a) Genioglossus
b) Hyoglossus
c) Styloglossus
d) Palatoglossus

21-b 22-b 23-b 24-b 25-a 26-b 27-b 28-b 29-b 30-c
31. Which extrinsic muscle of the tongue is NOT supplied by the hypoglossal nerve?
a) Genioglossus b) Hyoglossus c) Styloglossus d) Palatoglossus

32. Which nerve supplies special sensations (taste) to the anterior ⅔ of the tongue?
a) Lingual nerve
b) Chorda tympani
c) Glossopharyngeal nerve
d) Internal laryngeal nerve

33. Which artery is the primary blood supply to the tongue?

a) Facial artery
b) Ascending pharyngeal artery
c) Lingual artery
d) Maxillary artery

34. Where does the lingual vein ultimately drain into?

a) External jugular vein b) Internal jugular vein
c) Subclavian vein d) Brachiocephalic vein

35. Which lymph nodes primarily drain the posterior third of the tongue?
a) Submental nodes
b) Submandibular nodes
c) Deep cervical nodes
d) Jugulodigastric nodes

36. What is the clinical condition caused by a large frenulum of the tongue?
a) Ankyloglossia b) Glossitis c) Lingual tonsillitis d) Tongue laceration

37. What happens to the tongue in case of a hypoglossal nerve lesion?

a) The tongue deviates to the opposite side of the lesion
b) The tongue deviates to the side of the lesion
c) The tongue becomes hyperactive
d) The tongue remains unaffected

38. Which layer of the pharynx is composed of mucus and submucous membrane?
a) Fascia
b) Muscle
c) Mucus and submucous membrane
d) Buccopharyngeal fascia

39. Which muscle originates from the pterygomandibular ligament and its bony attachments?
a) Middle constrictor b) Inferior constrictor c) Superior constrictor d) Stylopharyngeus

40. What is the insertion point of the three constrictor muscles of the pharynx?
a) Thyroid cartilage b) Median raphe c) Hyoid bone d) Styloid process

31-d 32-b 33-c 34-b 35-c 36-a 37-b 38-c 39-c 40-b
41. Which nerve supplies the stylopharyngeus muscle?
a) Vagus nerve b) Glossopharyngeal nerve c) Hypoglossal nerve d) Facial nerve

42. What is the function of the salpingopharyngeus muscle?

a) Elevate the larynx b) Keep the Eustachian tube patent
c) Constrict the pharynx d) Depress the tongue

43. Which part of the pharynx lies behind the nasal cavity?
a) Oropharynx b) Laryngopharynx c) Nasopharynx d) Hypopharynx

44. What is the Waldeyer ring composed of?

a) Adenoids, lingual tonsils, and palatine tonsils
b) Pharyngeal tonsils and Eustachian tube
c) Palatine tonsils and salpingopharyngeal fold
d) Lingual tonsils and piriform fossa

45. Which structure is found in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx?

a) Piriform fossa b) Opening of the Eustachian tube
c) Palatine tonsil d) Epiglottis

46. What is the clinical significance of the piriform fossa?

a) It is a site for tonsillectomy
b) It is a dangerous site for perforation by an endoscope
c) It is the origin of the stylopharyngeus muscle
d) It contains the adenoids

47. Which structure is located in the 1st pharyngeal gap above the upper border of the superior
constrictor muscle?
a) Stylopharyngeus muscle b) Eustachian tube
c) Internal laryngeal nerve d) Recurrent laryngeal nerve

48. Which artery passes through the 1st pharyngeal gap?

a) Superior laryngeal artery b) Ascending palatine artery
c) Inferior thyroid artery d) Facial artery

49. What structures are found in the 2nd pharyngeal gap between the superior and middle
constrictor muscles?
a) 9th cranial nerve and stylopharyngeus muscle
b) Internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery
c) Recurrent laryngeal nerve and inferior laryngeal vessels
d) Tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini

50. Which nerve is located in the 3rd pharyngeal gap between the middle and inferior constrictor
muscles?
a) Glossopharyngeal nerve b) Internal laryngeal nerve
c) Vagus nerve d) Hypoglossal nerve

41-b 42-b 43-c 44-a 45-b 46-b 47-b 48-b 49-a 50-b
51. What structures pass through the 4th pharyngeal gap below the inferior constrictor muscle?
a) Eustachian tube and ascending palatine artery
b) 9th cranial nerve and stylopharyngeus muscle
c) Recurrent laryngeal nerve and inferior laryngeal vessels
d) Internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery

52. Which arteries contribute to the blood supply of the pharynx?

a) Facial artery, maxillary artery, lingual artery, superior & inferior laryngeal arteries, external
carotid artery
b) Internal carotid artery, subclavian artery
c) Brachiocephalic artery, vertebral artery
d) Coronary arteries

53. Through which structure does venous drainage of the pharynx primarily occur?
a) Jugular vein
b) Pharyngeal venous plexus
c) Azygos vein
d) Portal vein

54. Where do lymphatics from the pharynx primarily drain?

a) Submandibular lymph nodes
b) Deep cervical lymph nodes
c) Axillary lymph nodes
d) Inguinal lymph nodes

55. Where is the pharyngeal plexus located?

a) On the outer surface of the middle constrictor muscle
b) Inside the pharyngeal mucosa
c) On the inner surface of the inferior constrictor muscle
d) Around the stylopharyngeus muscle

56. Which nerves contribute to the formation of the pharyngeal plexus?

a) Vagus nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, superior cervical sympathetic ganglion
b) Hypoglossal nerve, vagus nerve, facial nerve
c) Trigeminal nerve, vagus nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve
d) Accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve, vagus nerve

51-c 52-a 53-c 54-c 55-a 56-a