DAANCE Basic Sciences and Anatomy 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which cranial nerve provides sensory innervation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
- Facial nerve (CN VII)
- Lingual nerve (branch of CN V3) (Correct answer)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
- Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Correct answer: Lingual nerve (branch of CN V3)
The lingual nerve, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3), carries general sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
Question 2: The epiglottis is composed primarily of which type of cartilage?
- Hyaline cartilage
- Fibrocartilage
- Elastic cartilage (Correct answer)
- Calcified cartilage
Correct answer: Elastic cartilage
The epiglottis is composed of elastic cartilage, which allows it to flex and return to shape during swallowing.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the Mallampati classification system used in anesthesia?
- It assesses cardiac risk prior to sedation
- It evaluates renal function before drug dosing
- It predicts ease of visualization of the oropharynx for airway management (Correct answer)
- It classifies the depth of anesthesia intraoperatively
Correct answer: It predicts ease of visualization of the oropharynx for airway management
The Mallampati classification assesses airway difficulty by evaluating the visibility of oropharyngeal structures with the mouth open and tongue protruded.
Question 4: The thoracic duct drains lymph from the left side of the body and empties into the:
- Right subclavian vein
- Left subclavian vein at the junction with the left internal jugular vein (Correct answer)
- Superior vena cava
- Left axillary vein
Correct answer: Left subclavian vein at the junction with the left internal jugular vein
The thoracic duct empties into the venous system at the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins.
Question 5: Which component of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response?
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- Sympathetic nervous system (Correct answer)
- Somatic nervous system
- Enteric nervous system
Correct answer: Sympathetic nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system triggers the fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate, dilating bronchioles, and redirecting blood flow to muscles.
Question 6: In dental anesthesia, the inferior alveolar nerve block anesthetizes all of the following EXCEPT:
- Mandibular molars
- Mandibular premolars
- Buccal soft tissue of mandibular molars (Correct answer)
- Lower lip on the injected side
Correct answer: Buccal soft tissue of mandibular molars
The buccal soft tissue adjacent to mandibular molars is innervated by the long buccal nerve, which requires a separate block.
Question 7: Which of the following describes the function of Type II pneumocytes in the lungs?
- Gas exchange across the alveolar membrane
- Phagocytosis of foreign particles
- Production of surfactant to reduce surface tension (Correct answer)
- Ciliary clearance of mucus
Correct answer: Production of surfactant to reduce surface tension
Type II pneumocytes (alveolar cells) produce pulmonary surfactant, which reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse.
DAANCE Basic Sciences and Anatomy 4
Which cranial nerve provides sensory innervation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?