Practice Practical

In the following items, try to identify the proper structure before pointing to it with the mouse. Once you think you have the proper item in mind, either hold the mouse over the item and read the answer from the status bar below or click on the item to bring up another image that will have the correct answer.

In the diagram on the right, click on the following bones to identify them:

ramus of mandible
vomer
greater wing of sphenoid
mastoid process of temporal
inferior concha

Yes, you have selected the ramus of the mandible

You have chosen the vomer, that is correct.

You are right, this is the orbital part of the greater wing of the sphenoid!

You have pointed out the temporal part of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. Good job.

You have pointed out the mastoid part of the temporal bone.

Yes, that is the inferior concha. This structure is part of the ethmoid bone

Which of the foraminae in the diagragm carry the following nerves?

glossopharyngeal
abducens
V2
vagus
facial

1. The glossopharyngeal nerve passes through the jugular foramen along with the vagus and the spinal accessory nerves.

2. The abducens passes through the superior orbital fissure along with the trochlear, oculomotor and ophthalmic division of the trigeminal. The superior ophthalmic vein also passes through this fissure.

3. Yes. You have pointed to the foramen rontundum through which the maxillary division of the trigeminal (V2) passes. This foramen leads to the pterygopalatine fossa.

5. You have pointed to the internal auditory meatus which carries the facial (VII) and vestibulocochlear (VIII) nerves. The facial nerve enters the facial canal and exits into the neck through the stylomastoid foramen.

Identify the following in the cross section of the neck:

thyroid cartilage

sternohyoid muscle

internal jugular vein

scalene anterior

brachial plexus

Yes, this is the thyroid cartilage.

You have pointed to the sternyhyoid muscle. Notice that it is separated from the thyroid cartilage by the sternothyroid muscle at this level

This is the internal jugular vein. Notice that it gets its name by being deep to or internal to the sternomastoid muscle.

You have correctly pointed to the scalene anterior muscle.

Yes, this is the brachial plexus. Note its location between the scalene anterior and scalene posterior muscles.

Select the correct match to the following:

select the only pharyngeal muscle NOT supplied by the vagus

point to a branch of the superior thyroid artery

select the nerve that provides sensory innervation to the vestibule of the larynx

which structure supplies all laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroideus

point to the muscle that arises from the stylohyoid ligament

1. You have selected the stylopharyngeus muscle and that is correct. The stylopharyngeus muscle is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).

2. This is the superior laryngeal artery, a branch of the superior thyroid artery, which is a branch of the external carotid artery.

3. You are correct. This is the internal laryngeal nerve which is a sensory branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. The superior laryngeal nerve, in turn, is a branch of the vagus (X).

4. You have pointed to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (X) and that is correct. This nerve supplies all of the muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid muscle. It also supplies sensory innervation to the area of the larynx below the true vocal cords.

5. The middle pharyngeal constrictor arises from the stylohyoid ligament plus the greater horn of the hyoid bone. It inserts into the pharyngeal raphe posterior to the pharynx.

Identify the nerve that supplies the mylohyoid and anterior belly of digastric muscles.

Point to the chorda tympani. This nerve carries preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from VII.

You have selected the lateral pterygoid muscle. This muscle opens the mouth by pulling the head of the condyle forward and downward, dropping the jaw.

This is the maxillary artery at its origin from the external carotid artery.

This is the meningeal branch of the maxillary artery. It passes upwards through the foramen spinosum to enter the middle cranial fossa.

Yes, that is the middle ear cavity.

Yes, this is the nerve to the mylohyoid muscle and the anterior belly of the digastric.

Yes, this is the chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve (VII). It carries parasympathetic fibers to the lingual nerve and thus to the submandibular ganglion which controls salivation of sublingual and submandibular glands. It also carries special sensory fibers for taste from the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue

Identify the middle ear cavity.

Identify the maxillary artery at its point of origin.
Identify the middle meningeal artery.

Which muscle is primarily responsible for opening the jaw?

You have identified the sella turcica or (pituitary fossa) as seen on a lateral radiograph. The sphenoid sinus is just below the fossa.

These are the mastoid air cells in the sinus. It empties anteriorly into the middle ear cavity.

Where is the pituitary located?

What structure is connected to the middle ear cavity?

Number 1 is the frontal suture.

Number 2 is the frontal sinus.

Number 4 is the ethmoid sinus.

Number 6 is the inferior nasal concha.

Name the structures that are numbered. Number 7 is not active but is the maxillary sinus.

You should recognize the diagram as a representation of the submanibular triangle.

Which structure supplies motor innervation to the tongue?

Point to a muscle that is supplied by the facial nerve.

Identify the hyoglossus muscle.

The hypoglossal nerve (XII) supplies all muscles of the tongue.

Yes this muscle is supplied by the facial nerve (VII). Both the stylohyoid and posterior belly of the digastric muscles are supplied by VII.

This is the hyglossus muscle. It draws the tongue backwards and down and is supplied by the hypoglossal nerve (XII).

1 nasopharynx

2 oropharynx

3 vestibule of larynx

4 ventricle of larynx

5 genioglossus muscle. Nerve supply = XII

6 geniohyoid muscle. Nerve supply = C1

7 mylohyoid muscle. Nerve supply = V3

Diagram of a sagittal section of the head and neck.

Identify the numbered items in the diagram. There are 7 all together. Click on the items to check yourself out.

Identify numbered items.

Click to see the name.

3 is the frontal sinus

2 is the tensor palati muscle. It is supplied by a branch of V3.

1 is the middle nasal concha. This is part of the ethmoid bone.

1 is the hiatus semilunaris

Identify the item numbered 1.

Identify the structures labeled B.

Which cranial nerve supplies taste fibers for A?

A represents the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue. Taste to this part of the tongue is by way of fibers in the chorda tympani (a branch of VII). General sensation for this part of the tongue is by way of the lingual nerve (a branch of V3).

B is pointing to circumvallate pappillae. These are taste buds in the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue. The nerve that carries taste sensation from this part of the tongue is the glossopharyngeal (IX).

Identify the item pointed to by A.

Identify the middle pharyngeal constrictor.

A points to the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX). This nerve lies just outside of the tonsilar bed and supplies sensory innervation to this part of the oropharynx.

You have selected the middle pharyngeal constrictor. It forms part of the tonsillar bed.

A light has been shined into each eye of this patient. Which eye is the non-responsive eye?
(move the mouse cursor over the non-responsive EYE)
Which cranial nerve causes pupillary constriction?

Which parasympathetic ganglion is involved?

The patient's left eye (A) is nonresponsive to the light. The inferior division of the oculomotor nerve (III) is responsible for carrying parasympathetic fibers to the ciliary ganglion which then causes pupillary constriction when activated. The sensory side of this "pupillary reflex" is the optic nerve.


Skull, Scalp and Superficial Face	Skull & face	Orbit and Ear	Parotid Region Infratemporal Region	Anterior Triangles of Neck	Posterior Triangle of Neck

Lateral Pharyngeal Region	Pharynx and Larynx	Nasal Cavity, Paranasal Sinuses, V2	Oral Cavity, Oral pharynx, Palatine tonsil	Larynx	Cranial Nerves