Anatomy
Head and Neck
Regarding the nerve supply of the oral cavity, which of the following statements is CORRECT:
Answer:
Parasympathetic fibres to the glands within the oral cavity are carried by branches of the facial nerve, which are distributed with branches of the trigeminal nerve.Innervation of Oral Cavity
Anatomy / Head and Neck / Mouth and Hard Palate
Last Updated: 11th April 2019
Sensory
General sensory innervation of the oral cavity is carried predominantly by branches of the trigeminal nerve:
- The upper parts of the cavity, including the palate and upper teeth are innervated by branches of the maxillary nerve.
- The lower parts of the cavity, including the lower teeth and anterior two-thirds of the tongue are innervated by branches of the mandibular nerve.
General sensation from the posterior one-third of the tongue is carried by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Motor
All muscles of the tongue are innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, except for the palatoglossus, which is innervated by the vagus nerve.
All muscles of the soft palate are innervated by the vagus nerve, except for the tensor veli palatini, which is innervated by a branch of the mandibular nerve.
The mylohyoid, which forms the floor of the oral cavity is also innervated by the mandibular nerve (inferior alveolar branch).
Special: Taste
Taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is carried by the chorda tympani (branch of the facial nerve).
Taste (and sensation) from the posterior one-third of the tongue is carried by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Autonomic
Parasympathetic fibres to the glands within the oral cavity are carried by branches of the facial nerve, which are distributed with branches of the trigeminal nerve.
Sympathetic fibres in the oral cavity ultimately come from spinal cord level T1, synapse in the superior cervical ganglion and are eventually distributed to the oral cavity along branches of the trigeminal nerve or directly along blood vessels.
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- Biochemistry
- Blood Gases
- Haematology
| Biochemistry | Normal Value |
|---|---|
| Sodium | 135 – 145 mmol/l |
| Potassium | 3.0 – 4.5 mmol/l |
| Urea | 2.5 – 7.5 mmol/l |
| Glucose | 3.5 – 5.0 mmol/l |
| Creatinine | 35 – 135 μmol/l |
| Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) | 5 – 35 U/l |
| Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) | < 65 U/l |
| Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) | 30 – 135 U/l |
| Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) | < 40 U/l |
| Total Protein | 60 – 80 g/l |
| Albumin | 35 – 50 g/l |
| Globulin | 2.4 – 3.5 g/dl |
| Amylase | < 70 U/l |
| Total Bilirubin | 3 – 17 μmol/l |
| Calcium | 2.1 – 2.5 mmol/l |
| Chloride | 95 – 105 mmol/l |
| Phosphate | 0.8 – 1.4 mmol/l |
| Haematology | Normal Value |
|---|---|
| Haemoglobin | 11.5 – 16.6 g/dl |
| White Blood Cells | 4.0 – 11.0 x 109/l |
| Platelets | 150 – 450 x 109/l |
| MCV | 80 – 96 fl |
| MCHC | 32 – 36 g/dl |
| Neutrophils | 2.0 – 7.5 x 109/l |
| Lymphocytes | 1.5 – 4.0 x 109/l |
| Monocytes | 0.3 – 1.0 x 109/l |
| Eosinophils | 0.1 – 0.5 x 109/l |
| Basophils | < 0.2 x 109/l |
| Reticulocytes | < 2% |
| Haematocrit | 0.35 – 0.49 |
| Red Cell Distribution Width | 11 – 15% |
| Blood Gases | Normal Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.35 – 7.45 |
| pO2 | 11 – 14 kPa |
| pCO2 | 4.5 – 6.0 kPa |
| Base Excess | -2 – +2 mmol/l |
| Bicarbonate | 24 – 30 mmol/l |
| Lactate | < 2 mmol/l |
