NBDHE NBDHE Head and Neck Anatomy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The posterior superior alveolar nerve is a branch of which nerve?
- Inferior alveolar nerve
- Maxillary nerve (V2) (Correct answer)
- Mandibular nerve (V3)
- Greater palatine nerve
Correct answer: Maxillary nerve (V2)
The posterior superior alveolar nerve branches from the maxillary nerve (V2) before it enters the infraorbital canal, supplying maxillary molars.
Question 2: Which muscle of facial expression closes the eye?
- Levator palpebrae superioris
- Orbicularis oculi (Correct answer)
- Corrugator supercilii
- Frontalis
Correct answer: Orbicularis oculi
The orbicularis oculi is the sphincter muscle of the eyelid that closes the eye; its palpebral part closes it gently and the orbital part forcefully.
Question 3: Which bone contains the pterygopalatine fossa?
- Temporal bone
- Maxilla and sphenoid (Correct answer)
- Palatine and maxilla
- Zygomatic and sphenoid
Correct answer: Maxilla and sphenoid
The pterygopalatine fossa is formed between the posterior surface of the maxilla anteriorly and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid posteriorly.
Question 4: The nasopalatine nerve exits the palate through which foramen?
- Greater palatine foramen
- Lesser palatine foramen
- Incisive foramen (Correct answer)
- Mental foramen
Correct answer: Incisive foramen
The nasopalatine nerve passes through the incisive foramen to supply the mucosa of the anterior hard palate behind the maxillary incisors.
Question 5: Which cranial nerve provides general somatic afferent innervation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
- CN VII
- CN IX
- CN V3 (Correct answer)
- CN XII
Correct answer: CN V3
The lingual nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3), provides general somatic afferent (touch, pain, temperature) sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
Question 6: Which muscle protracts the mandible?
- Temporalis
- Masseter
- Medial pterygoid
- Lateral pterygoid (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Lateral pterygoid
Both heads of the lateral pterygoid acting bilaterally protract (protrude) the mandible by pulling the condyle and articular disc anteriorly.
Question 7: The external carotid artery does NOT give rise to which of the following branches?
- Facial artery
- Lingual artery
- Ophthalmic artery (Correct answer)
- Maxillary artery
Correct answer: Ophthalmic artery
The ophthalmic artery is the first branch of the internal carotid artery, not the external carotid artery.
NBDHE NBDHE Head and Neck Anatomy 3
The posterior superior alveolar nerve is a branch of which nerve?