NDHCE Head and Neck Anatomy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which structure forms the floor of the mouth and attaches the tongue to the mandible?
- Lingual frenum
- Mylohyoid muscle (Correct answer)
- Genioglossus muscle
- Hyoglossus muscle
Correct answer: Mylohyoid muscle
The mylohyoid muscle forms the muscular floor of the oral cavity, supporting the tongue and floor of the mouth.
Question 2: Which lymph node group is the first to receive lymphatic drainage from the tip of the tongue and lower incisors?
- Submandibular lymph nodes
- Submental lymph nodes (Correct answer)
- Deep cervical lymph nodes
- Parotid lymph nodes
Correct answer: Submental lymph nodes
The submental lymph nodes, located beneath the chin, receive primary lymphatic drainage from the tip of the tongue, lower lip, and mandibular incisors.
Question 3: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a synovial joint between which two bony structures?
- Mandibular condyle and temporal bone (glenoid fossa) (Correct answer)
- Coronoid process and zygomatic arch
- Mandibular ramus and maxillary tuberosity
- Hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage
Correct answer: Mandibular condyle and temporal bone (glenoid fossa)
The TMJ is formed between the condylar head of the mandible and the glenoid (mandibular) fossa of the temporal bone, separated by an articular disc.
Question 4: Which cranial nerve controls the motor function of the tongue?
- Trigeminal nerve (V)
- Facial nerve (VII)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
- Hypoglossal nerve (XII) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
The hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) provides motor innervation to all intrinsic and most extrinsic muscles of the tongue, controlling tongue movement.
Question 5: The cementoenamel junction (CEJ) is a critical landmark in dental hygiene because it:
- Marks the boundary between enamel and dentin
- Serves as the reference point for measuring clinical attachment level (Correct answer)
- Indicates the location of pulp horns
- Marks the boundary between the crown and root in terms of innervation
Correct answer: Serves as the reference point for measuring clinical attachment level
The CEJ is the reference point from which clinical attachment loss (CAL) is measured, making it the most important anatomical landmark for periodontal assessment.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the anatomical location of the pterygomandibular raphe?
- A muscle connecting the two pterygoid plates
- A fibrous band between the buccinator muscle and the superior pharyngeal constrictor (Correct answer)
- The junction between hard and soft palate
- The tendon of the temporalis muscle
Correct answer: A fibrous band between the buccinator muscle and the superior pharyngeal constrictor
The pterygomandibular raphe is a fibrous band stretching from the pterygoid hamulus to the posterior mandible, separating and serving as the origin for the buccinator and superior pharyngeal constrictor muscles.
NDHCE Head and Neck Anatomy 2
Which structure forms the floor of the mouth and attaches the tongue to the mandible?