Muscles
This tongue muscle originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts along the sides of the tongue, retracting and elevating it during swallowing and speech. It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).
What is the Styloglossus?
This part of the eye is responsible for focusing light onto the retina.
What is the Lens?
This cranial nerve provides sensation to the forehead, scalp, and upper eyelids.
What is the Ophthalmic Branch of the Trigeminal Nerve (V1 of CN V)?
This structure is the primary location for smell receptors in the nasal cavity.
What is the Olfactory Epithelium?
This nerve’s parasympathetic fibers travel to the pterygopalatine ganglion, where they innervate the lacrimal glands, aiding in tear production.
What is the Facial Nerve (Greater Petrosal) (CN VII)?
This muscle, located between the mandible and the hyoid bone, helps raise the floor of the mouth during swallowing.
What is the Geniohyoid?
The area in the retina where the optic nerve exits, lacking photoreceptors, is known as this.
What is the Optic Disc (or Blind Spot)?
This cranial nerve provides motor innervation to the muscles of mastication, allowing movements like chewing and biting.
What is the Mandibular Branch of the Trigeminal Nerve (V3 of CN V)?
Located in the nasopharynx, this structure helps prevent food from entering the nasal cavity during swallowing.
What is the Soft Palate?
This ganglion, associated with the glossopharyngeal nerve, provides parasympathetic innervation to the parotid gland, facilitating saliva production.
What is the Otic Ganglion?
The superior oblique muscle moves the eye down and laterally and is innervated by this cranial nerve.
What is the Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)?
The canal connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx, equalizing air pressure, is called this.
What is the Eustachian Tube?
This nerve innervates the stylopharyngeus muscle and provides taste to the posterior third of the tongue.
What is the Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)?
The tonsillar ring, also known as Waldeyer’s ring, includes this lymphoid tissue located on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx.
What is the Pharyngeal Tonsil (Adenoid)?
The parasympathetic fibers of this cranial nerve synapse in the ciliary ganglion and are responsible for pupil constriction and lens accommodation.
What is the Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)?
This muscle originates near the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube and elevates the pharynx during swallowing. It’s innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X) through the pharyngeal plexus.
What is the Salpingopharyngeus?
These specialized cells within the semicircular canals detect rotational movements of the head, contributing to balance and spatial orientation.
What are the Hair Cells (of the Vestibular System)?
This cranial nerve provides sensory innervation to the mucosa of the larynx above the vocal cords and motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle, affecting voice pitch.
What is the Superior Laryngeal Nerve (branch of the Vagus Nerve, CN X)?
This cartilage in the larynx is shaped like a ring and forms the base of the laryngeal structure.
What is the Cricoid Cartilage?
This branch of the maxillary nerve (V2) supplies sensory innervation to the temple region and helps parasympathetic fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion reach the lacrimal gland to aid in tear production.
What is the Zygomaticotemporal Nerve?
This muscle originates from the petrous part of the temporal bone and the cartilaginous portion of the auditory tube, elevating the soft palate to prevent food from entering the nasopharynx during swallowing. It’s innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve (CN X).
What is the Levator Veli Palatini?
Located within the cochlear duct of the inner ear, this sensory structure contains hair cells that transduce sound vibrations into neural signals, allowing for the perception of sound. It is essential for auditory processing and is innervated by fibers of the cochlear nerve.
What is the Organ of Corti?
This cranial nerve, emerging from the medulla, innervates muscles of the larynx and provides parasympathetic innervation to thoracic and abdominal organs.
What is the Vagus Nerve (CN X)?
In the nasal cavity, these scroll-like bones increase the surface area for humidifying and filtering air.
What are the Nasal Conchae?
The postganglionic fibers originating from the ciliary ganglion innervate these two intraocular muscles, aiding in focusing and controlling light entry into the eye.
What are the Sphincter Pupillae and Ciliary Muscles?