Muscles of the Pharynx and Larynx [Practice MC Questions]

The pharynx extends from the base of the cranium to:

A. Nasal cavity

B. Trachea

C. Esophagus

D. Hyoid bone

E. Mandible

C

Which is NOT a subdivision of the pharynx?

A. Nasopharynx

B. Oropharynx

C. Laryngopharynx

D. Hypopharynx

E. Tracheopharynx

E

The choanae are openings between the:

A. Oropharynx and laryngopharynx

B. Oral cavity and oropharynx

C. Nasal fossae and nasopharynx

D. Nasal cavity and oral cavity

E. Larynx and trachea

C

True/False: The nasopharynx is innervated by branches of CN V2.

True

Sensory innervation of the oropharynx is via:

A. CN V3

B. CN VII

C. CN IX and CN X

D. CN XI

E. CN XII

C

Levator veli palatini is innervated by:

A. CN V2

B. CN V3

C. CN VII

D. CN X

E. CN XII

D

Tensor veli palatini is innervated by:

A. CN V3

B. CN VII

C. CN IX

D. CN X

E. Sympathetics

A

The uvular muscle functions to:

A. Close the glottis

B. Shorten, elevate, and retract uvula

C. Depress epiglottis

D. Elevate tongue

E. Tense auditory tube

B

The palatine tonsils lie between:

A. Glossopharyngeus and stylopharyngeus

B. Palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus

C. Superior and middle constrictors

D. Buccinator and palatoglossus

E. Cricopharyngeus and esophagus

B

Tonsillectomy may risk damage to which nerve?

A. CN V2

B. CN V3

C. CN IX

D. CN X

E. CN XII

C

Superior constrictor muscle action:

A. Elevates pharynx

B. Constricts pharynx to propel bolus

C. Opens auditory tube

D. Opens upper esophageal sphincter

E. Elevates soft palate

B

Stylopharyngeus is innervated by:

A. CN V3

B. CN VII

C. CN IX

D. CN X

E. CN XII

C

Salpingopharyngeus muscle:

A. Opens auditory tube

B. Elevates lateral pharyngeal wall

C. Depresses epiglottis

D. Retracts uvula

E. Both A and B

E

Cricopharyngeus is part of the:

A. Upper esophageal sphincter

B. Lower esophageal sphincter

C. Middle constrictor

D. Inferior oblique

E. Stylopharyngeus

A

True/False: The pharyngeal plexus includes contributions from CN IX, X, and XI.

True

Which is the only complete ring of cartilage in the airway?

A. Thyroid

B. Cricoid

C. Arytenoid

D. Corniculate

E. Epiglottis

B

The Adam's apple corresponds to the:

A. Cricoid cartilage

B. Thyroid cartilage prominence

C. Arytenoid cartilage

D. Epiglottis

E. Hyoid bone

B

Which ligament connects thyroid cartilage to cricoid cartilage?

A. Thyrohyoid

B. Cricothyroid ligament

C. Cricotracheal ligament

D. Vocal ligament

E. Median thyrohyoid

B

Which cartilage rotates to control vocal cords?

A. Cricoid

B. Arytenoid

C. Epiglottis

D. Corniculate

E. Thyroid

B

The thyrohyoid membrane connects:

A. Thyroid → hyoid

B. Thyroid → cricoid

C. Thyroid → arytenoid

D. Hyoid → cricoid

E. Cricoid → arytenoid

A

Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle action:

A. Adducts vocal cords

B. Abducts vocal cords

C. Tenses vocal cords

D. Relaxes vocal cords

E. Elevates soft palate

B

Cricothyroid muscle is innervated by:

A. Internal branch of SLN

B. External branch of SLN

C. Recurrent laryngeal nerve

D. Glossopharyngeal nerve

E. Accessory nerve

B

Which muscle lengthens and tenses vocal cords to raise pitch?

A. Posterior cricoarytenoid

B. Cricothyroid

C. Thyroarytenoid

D. Vocalis

E. Lateral cricoarytenoid

B

Which muscle adducts arytenoid cartilages?

A. Posterior cricoarytenoid

B. Transverse arytenoid

C. Cricothyroid

D. Vocalis

E. Thyrohyoid

B

Which muscle is the main body of the vocal fold?

A. Vocalis

B. Thyroarytenoid

C. Cricothyroid

D. Oblique arytenoid

E. Levator veli palatini

A

The laryngeal vestibule is innervated by:

A. Recurrent laryngeal

B. Internal branch of superior laryngeal

C. External branch of superior laryngeal

D. Glossopharyngeal

E. Auriculotemporal

B

Infraglottic cavity innervation:

A. CN V3

B. CN VII

C. CN IX

D. Recurrent laryngeal nerve

E. Internal branch of SLN

D

All intrinsic laryngeal muscles are innervated by recurrent laryngeal except:

A. Cricothyroid

B. Posterior cricoarytenoid

C. Vocalis

D. Transverse arytenoid

E. Oblique arytenoid

A

Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve may cause:

A. Tongue paralysis

B. Unilateral vocal fold paralysis

C. Loss of gag reflex

D. Hypernasal speech

E. Complete airway obstruction

B

RLN injury after thyroid surgery may present with all EXCEPT:

A. Hoarse voice

B. Breathy cough

C. Exertional dyspnea

D. Diplopia

E. Aspiration risk

D

Cricothyrotomy incision passes through:

A. Thyroid cartilage

B. Cricothyroid membrane

C. Cricotracheal ligament

D. Thyrohyoid membrane

E. Epiglottis

B

Tracheostomy is placed:

A. Above thyroid cartilage

B. Between upper tracheal rings

C. At the hyoid bone

D. Through arytenoid cartilage

E. Through vocal folds

B

Which is NOT part of the cricothyrotomy steps?

A. Identify laryngeal prominence

B. Identify cricoid cartilage

C. Incise cricothyroid membrane

D. Place tracheostomy tube inferior to cricoid

E. Stabilize trachea

D

Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) are located in:

A. Oropharynx

B. Nasopharynx

C. Laryngopharynx

D. Oral cavity

E. Piriform fossa

B

Lingual tonsils are located at:

A. Posterior wall of nasopharynx

B. Floor of oropharynx

C. Piriform recess

D. Valleculae

E. Aryepiglottic folds

B

Waldeyer's ring includes all EXCEPT:

A. Pharyngeal tonsils

B. Lingual tonsils

C. Palatine tonsils

D. Tubal tonsils

E. Laryngeal tonsils

E

Valleculae are found between:

A. Epiglottis and tongue

B. Arytenoid and cricoid

C. Vocal cords

D. Soft palate and uvula

E. Hyoid and thyroid

A

Piriform recess lies lateral to:

A. Epiglottis

B. Arytenoid cartilage

C. Laryngeal aperture

D. Valleculae

E. Lingual tonsil

B

Foreign bodies in piriform recess risk injury to:

A. Internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve

B. External branch of superior laryngeal nerve

C. Recurrent laryngeal nerve

D. Glossopharyngeal

E. Hypoglossal

A

Aryepiglottic folds form:

A. Lateral walls of laryngeal aperture

B. Medial wall of valleculae

C. Piriform recess floor

D. Posterior tonsillar bed

E. Conus elasticus

A

Vocal folds are composed of:

A. Only epithelium

B. Mucosa, vocal ligament, vocalis

C. Thyroid cartilage only

D. Arytenoid cartilage only

E. Conus elasticus

B

Vestibular folds are also called:

A. True vocal cords

B. False vocal cords

C. Vocalis folds

D. Cricothyroid folds

E. Vocal ligaments

B

Rima glottidis is defined as:

A. Space between vocal ligaments

B. Space between vestibular folds

C. Space between aryepiglottic folds

D. Laryngeal inlet

E. Space between cricoid and thyroid

A

Phonation depends on:

A. Tongue contraction

B. Vibrations of vocal folds with airflow

C. Arytenoid cartilage shape

D. Tensor veli palatini

E. Conus elasticus only

B

Which muscle opens the airway for breathing?

A. Lateral cricoarytenoid

B. Posterior cricoarytenoid

C. Transverse arytenoid

D. Oblique arytenoid

E. Cricothyroid

B

Which cartilage serves as attachment for vocal ligaments?

A. Thyroid and arytenoid

B. Cricoid and thyroid

C. Epiglottis and cricoid

D. Hyoid and thyroid

E. Corniculate and cricoid

A

Which nerve supplies sensation below the vocal folds?

A. CN IX

B. Internal branch of SLN

C. External branch of SLN

D. Recurrent laryngeal

E. CN XII

D

A patient with hoarseness and aspiration after thyroidectomy likely has damage to:

A. Superior laryngeal nerve - internal branch

B. Superior laryngeal nerve - external branch

C. Recurrent laryngeal nerve

D. Glossopharyngeal nerve

E. Hypoglossal nerve

C

Which is the ONLY muscle that abducts the vocal folds?

A. Lateral cricoarytenoid

B. Posterior cricoarytenoid

C. Transverse arytenoid

D. Vocalis

E. Cricothyroid

B