Head and Neck Anatomy: Key Questions and Answers

Musculoskeletal and Fascial Structures

• What muscle does the superficial cervical fascia contain?
  Platysma.
• In which part of the mandible is the stylomandibular ligament inserted?
  Angle and posterior border of the ramus of the mandible.
• In which part of the mandible is the lateral pterygoid muscle inserted?
  Neck of the mandible (pterygoid fovea).
• Which two muscles are inserted into the pterygomandibular raphe?
  Buccinator and superior pharyngeal constrictor.
• From which branchial arch are the masticatory derivatives?
  1st branchial arch.
• Which two muscles form part of the medial wall of the infratemporal fossa?
  Tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini.

Neuroanatomy and Cranial Nerves

• In what part of the brain is the hippocampus located?
  Limbic system (temporal lobe).
• In which part of the brain is the habenula located?
  Epithalamus.
• Which four cranial nerves are related to the parasympathetic system?
  CN III, VII, IX, and X.
• Which branch of the mandibular nerve receives parasympathetic fibers from CN IX?
  Auriculotemporal nerve (posterior trunk).
• Which branches of CN X form part of the pharyngeal plexus?
  Pharyngeal branch and the external laryngeal nerve (from the superior laryngeal branch).
• What nerve runs through the sphenopalatine foramen?
  Nasopalatine nerve.
• Which terminal branches of CN VII innervate the cutaneous muscles of the upper lip?
  Zygomatic and buccal branches.
• What is the origin of the deep petrosal nerve?
  Internal carotid plexus.

Vascular System and Glands

• What kind of secretion does the sublingual gland produce?
  Mixed, mainly mucous.
• What are the two anastomoses of the deep branch of the submental artery?
  Inferior labial (facial) and mental artery (inferior alveolar).
• Which masticatory muscles do the muscular branches of the facial artery supply?
  Medial pterygoid and masseter.
• Which two branches of the ophthalmic artery supply the lateral wall of the nasal cavity?
  Anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries.
• Where does the posterior external jugular vein drain?
  External jugular vein.

Osteology and Anatomical Spaces

• What is the anterior bony boundary of the cavernous sinus?
  Superior orbital fissure.
• Which two canals connect the orbit with the nasal cavity?
  Anterior and posterior ethmoidal canals.
• Which bone articulates with the pterygoid fissure?
  Palatine bone (pyramidal process).
• Which bone forms the medial wall of the pterygopalatine fossa?
  Perpendicular plate of the palatine bone.
• What bony structures separate the squamous and orbital parts of the frontal bone?
  Supraorbital margin (arch).
• Which bony openings communicate the cavernous sinus with the pterygoid plexus?
  Foramen lacerum and foramen ovale.