Oral Cavity — MCQs
Which tongue papillae do not have taste buds?
Not included in oral cavity: a) Base of tongue b) Gingivobuccal sulcus c) Soft palate d) Hard palate e) Buccal mucosa
Impulses generated in the taste buds of the tongue reach the cerebral cortex via the
Taste sensations from the posterior one-third of the tongue are carried by which nerve?
Gustatory pathway involves which nerve(s)?
Which of the following drains into the middle meatus except?
Which nerve gives sensory supply to the region marked with an arrow?
Which bones form the floor of the nasal cavity in children?
The action of the styloglossus muscle is
Which of the following statements about the location of the otic ganglion is correct?
Oral Cavity Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 1: Which tongue papillae do not have taste buds?
- A. Fungiform
- B. Filiform (Correct Answer)
- C. Circumvallate
- D. Foliate
- E. Conical
Explanation: ***Filiform*** - **Filiform papillae** are the most abundant type of papillae on the tongue and are responsible for the **mechanical action of gripping food**, due to their cone-shaped, abrasive structure of keratinized epithelium. - Unlike other papillae, they **lack taste buds** and thus do not play a role in taste sensation. *Fungiform* - **Fungiform papillae** are mushroom-shaped and are scattered among the filiform papillae, primarily on the tip and sides of the tongue. - These papillae **contain taste buds** on their superior surface and are involved in sensing taste stimuli. *Circumvallate* - **Circumvallate papillae** are large, dome-shaped structures arranged in a V-shape at the back of the tongue. - They are surrounded by a trench into which salivary glands empty, and their walls contain a **large number of taste buds**. *Foliate* - **Foliate papillae** are leaf-like folds located on the lateral margins of the posterior tongue. - They are **well-developed in young children** and contain taste buds, though they tend to degenerate with age. *Conical* - **Conical** is not a recognized classification of tongue papillae. While filiform papillae have a conical (cone-shaped) structure, "conical papillae" is not an anatomical term used to describe a distinct type of papilla.
Question 2: Not included in oral cavity: a) Base of tongue b) Gingivobuccal sulcus c) Soft palate d) Hard palate e) Buccal mucosa
- A. Base of tongue only
- B. Gingivobuccal sulcus and soft palate
- C. Base of tongue and soft palate (Correct Answer)
- D. Soft palate only
- E. Base of tongue and hard palate
Explanation: ***Base of tongue and soft palate*** - The **oral cavity proper** includes the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, the hard palate, the gingiva, the buccal mucosa, and the floor of the mouth. - The **base (posterior one-third) of the tongue** and the **soft palate** are generally considered part of the **oropharynx**, not the oral cavity. *Base of tongue only* - While the **base of the tongue** is outside the oral cavity, this option is incomplete as the **soft palate** is also excluded. - The oral cavity extends up to the **anterior tonsillar pillars**, which are immediately anterior to the soft palate. *Gingivobuccal sulcus and soft palate* - The **gingivobuccal sulcus** is correctly considered part of the oral cavity as it forms the vestibule. - This option incorrectly excludes the sulcus and only partially identifies structures outside the oral cavity. *Soft palate only* - This option is incomplete because the **base of the tongue** is also not part of the oral cavity. - The soft palate marks the posterior boundary of the oral cavity and forms part of the oropharynx. *Base of tongue and hard palate* - The **hard palate** forms the roof of the oral cavity and is definitely included within it. - This option incorrectly includes the hard palate, making it an unsuitable choice.
Question 3: Impulses generated in the taste buds of the tongue reach the cerebral cortex via the
- A. Thalamus (Correct Answer)
- B. Dorsal roots of the first cervical spinal nerve
- C. Hypoglossal nerve
- D. Lingual nerve
Explanation: ***Thalamus*** - The **thalamus** acts as a crucial relay station for almost all sensory information, including taste, before it reaches the **cerebral cortex** for conscious perception. - Taste signals from the cranial nerves (facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus) travel to the **nucleus of the solitary tract** in the brainstem, then to the **ventral posteromedial (VPM) nucleus of the thalamus**, and finally to the **gustatory cortex**. *Dorsal roots of the first cervical spinal nerve* - The dorsal roots of cervical spinal nerves are involved in transmitting **somatosensory information** (touch, pain, temperature, proprioception) from the neck and head region, not taste. - These nerves carry signals from the spinal cord to the brain, whereas taste pathways originate from cranial nerves in the head. *Hypoglossal nerve* - The **hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)** is primarily a **motor nerve** responsible for controlling the muscles of the tongue, essential for speech and swallowing. - It has no direct role in transmitting taste sensations to the cerebral cortex. *Lingual nerve* - The **lingual nerve** is a branch of the **trigeminal nerve (CN V)** and carries **general sensation** (touch, pain, temperature) from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. - While it runs with the **chorda tympani** (a branch of the facial nerve that carries taste), the lingual nerve itself does not transmit taste signals to the brain.
Question 4: Taste sensations from the posterior one-third of the tongue are carried by which nerve?
- A. Glossopharyngeal (Correct Answer)
- B. Lingual
- C. Chorda tympani
- D. Vagus
Explanation: ***Glossopharyngeal*** - The **glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)** is responsible for conveying **taste sensation** from the posterior one-third of the tongue [1]. - It also provides general sensation to this region and motor innervation to the stylopharyngeus muscle. *Lingual* - The **lingual nerve** is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3) and carries **general sensation** (touch, pain, temperature) from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. - It does not carry taste sensation directly; taste fibers from the anterior two-thirds are carried by the chorda tympani, which joins the lingual nerve. *Chorda tympani* - The **chorda tympani** is a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) and carries **taste sensation** from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue [1]. - It joins the lingual nerve but is distinct in its primary function of conveying taste. *Vagus* - The **vagus nerve (CN X)** innervates a small area of the **epiglottis** and the extreme posterior part of the pharynx for taste sensation [1]. - It does not primarily innervate the posterior one-third of the tongue for taste.
Question 5: Gustatory pathway involves which nerve(s)?
- A. Glossopharyngeal
- B. Vagus
- C. Facial
- D. Facial and Glossopharyngeal (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Facial and Glossopharyngeal*** - The **facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)** innervates the taste buds on the **anterior two-thirds of the tongue** via the **chorda tympani** branch [1]. - The **glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX)** innervates the taste buds on the **posterior one-third of the tongue** and the circumvallate papillae [1]. *Glossopharyngeal* - While the **glossopharyngeal nerve** is involved in taste sensation for the posterior tongue, it does not cover the entire taste pathway. - It specifically transmits taste from the **posterior one-third of the tongue** and **circumvallate papillae** [1]. *Vagus* - The **vagus nerve (cranial nerve X)** plays a minor role in taste sensation, primarily innervating taste buds on the **epiglottis and pharynx** [1]. - Its contribution to the overall gustatory pathway is not as significant as the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves. *Facial* - The **facial nerve** is crucial for taste sensation, specifically transmitting taste from the **anterior two-thirds of the tongue** [1]. - However, it does not innervate the posterior portion of the tongue, making it an incomplete answer for the entire gustatory pathway.
Question 6: Which of the following drains into the middle meatus except?
- A. Lacrimal duct (Correct Answer)
- B. Maxillary sinus
- C. Frontal sinus
- D. Ethmoidal sinus
Explanation: ***Lacrimal duct*** - The **nasolacrimal duct**, also known as the lacrimal duct, drains tears from the eye into the **inferior meatus** of the nasal cavity. - It is not associated with the drainage of the paranasal sinuses into the middle meatus. *Maxillary sinus* - The **maxillary sinus** drains into the **middle meatus** via the **semilunar hiatus**, an opening located on the lateral wall of the meatus. - Obstruction of this drainage can lead to **maxillary sinusitis**. *Frontal sinus* - The **frontal sinus** drains into the **middle meatus** via the **frontonasal duct**, which opens into the anterior part of the meatus, often into the ethmoidal infundibulum. - Its drainage is crucial for preventing the accumulation of mucus and infection in the forehead. *Ethmoidal sinus* - The **anterior ethmoidal cells** and **middle ethmoidal cells** drain into the **middle meatus**, typically into the ethmoidal infundibulum or onto the **ethmoidal bulla**. - Note: The **posterior ethmoidal cells** drain into the **superior meatus**, not the middle meatus.
Question 7: Which nerve gives sensory supply to the region marked with an arrow?
- A. Radial nerve (Correct Answer)
- B. Median nerve
- C. Ulnar nerve
- D. Posterior interosseous nerve
Explanation: ***Radial nerve*** - The image shows the **dorsal (back) aspect of the hand**, specifically the region over the **anatomical snuffbox** or the dorsal part of the thumb and first web space. - The **superficial branch of the radial nerve** provides sensory innervation to this area, including the dorsal aspect of the thumb, index, and half of the middle finger, extending to the dorsal hand. *Median nerve* - The **median nerve** primarily provides sensory innervation to the **palmar aspect** of the lateral three and a half digits (thumb, index, middle, and radial half of the ring finger) and the corresponding palm. - It does not innervate the dorsal hand in the region indicated. *Ulnar nerve* - The **ulnar nerve** innervates the **medial 1.5 digits** (pinky and ulnar half of the ring finger) on both the palmar and dorsal aspects of the hand, as well as the ulnar part of the palm and dorsum of the hand. - The highlighted region is on the radial side of the hand, not the ulnar side. *Posterior interosseous nerve* - The **posterior interosseous nerve** is a **motor nerve** that innervates the muscles in the posterior compartment of the forearm. - It does **not provide sensory innervation** to any part of the hand.
Question 8: Which bones form the floor of the nasal cavity in children?
- A. Nasal bone and maxilla
- B. Vomer and ethmoid
- C. Palatine process of the maxilla and horizontal plate of the palatine bone (Correct Answer)
- D. Nasal crest of maxilla and palatine process of maxilla
Explanation: ***Palatine process of the maxilla and horizontal plate of the palatine bone*** - These two bones form the **hard palate**, which also serves as the **floor of the nasal cavity**. - The **palatine process of the maxilla** forms the anterior two-thirds, while the **horizontal plate of the palatine bone** forms the posterior one-third of the hard palate. *Vomer and ethmoid* - The **vomer** and part of the **ethmoid bone** (specifically the perpendicular plate) contribute to the **nasal septum**, which divides the nasal cavity. - They do not form the floor of the nasal cavity. *Nasal bone and maxilla* - The **nasal bones** form the **bridge of the nose** and part of the roof of the nasal cavity anteriorly. - While the **maxilla** contributes to the floor via its palatine process, the nasal bones do not. *Nasal crest of maxilla and palatine process of maxilla* - The **palatine process of the maxilla** does form part of the floor of the nasal cavity. - However, the **nasal crest of the maxilla** is part of the vomer's articulation and is involved in the septum, not the primary floor structure.
Question 9: The action of the styloglossus muscle is
- A. Protrusion of tongue
- B. Posteriorly retracts the tongue (Correct Answer)
- C. Depression of tongue
- D. Elevation of tongue
Explanation: ***Posteriorly retracts the tongue*** - The **styloglossus muscle** originates from the styloid process and inserts into the tongue, pulling it **superiorly and posteriorly**. - Its primary action is to **retract the tongue** and draw its sides upward, contributing to the formation of a trough for swallowing. *Protrusion of tongue* - **Protrusion of the tongue** is primarily carried out by the **genioglossus muscle**, which pulls the tongue forward. - The styloglossus muscle has the opposite action, drawing the tongue backward. *Depression of tongue* - **Depression of the tongue** is mainly achieved by the **hyoglossus muscle**, which pulls the tongue downwards. - The styloglossus muscle retracts the tongue but does not primarily depress it. *Elevation of tongue* - While styloglossus does have a component of **elevation**, its main action is **retraction**. - Other muscles like the **palatoglossus** are more involved in the general elevation of the tongue.
Question 10: Which of the following statements about the location of the otic ganglion is correct?
- A. Anterior to middle meningeal artery
- B. Lateral to mandibular nerve
- C. Inferior to foramen ovale (Correct Answer)
- D. Lateral to tensor veli palatini
Explanation: ***Inferior to foramen ovale*** - The **otic ganglion** is a small parasympathetic ganglion located in the **infratemporal fossa**. - It is consistently found just **inferior to the foramen ovale**, often within the fossa medial to the mandibular nerve. *Lateral to tensor veli palatini* - The otic ganglion is actually located **medial** (or superficial) to the origin of the **tensor veli palatini muscle**. - Its position is more closely associated with the medial pterygoid muscle and the Eustachian tube. *Lateral to mandibular nerve* - The otic ganglion is typically situated **medial** to the **mandibular nerve (V3)**, specifically medial to its main trunk or branches near the foramen ovale. - It is closely applied to the medial aspect of the mandibular nerve. *Anterior to middle meningeal artery* - The **middle meningeal artery** typically passes **lateral** to the otic ganglion as it ascends through the foramen spinosum. - Therefore, the ganglion is generally located **medial** or posterior to the artery, not anterior.
Want unlimited practice?
Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.
Start For Free