An otherwise healthy 11-year-old female with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections undergoes bilateral tonsillectomy. While performing the procedure, the surgeon accidentally damages the nerve that lies in the tonsillar fossa, deep to the palatine tonsil. Which of the following functional losses is likely to result from this injury?
A. Loss of sensation on the posterior 1/3 of the tongue
B. Loss of taste on the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
C. Paralysis of the constrictor muscles of the palate
D. Paralysis of the muscles of the soft palate
E. Paralysis of the muscles of the tongue
aaaaaaa..glossopharyngeall..o god!1one answer plzz
The correct answer is A. The nerve that lies in the tonsillar fossa is the glossopharyngeal nerve. This nerve provides general sensory innervation to the mucosa of the pharynx, and general sensory and taste sensation to the mucosa of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue. The nerve also innervates the stylopharyngeus muscle, but this innervation occurs proximal to the point at which the nerve crosses the tonsillar fossa.
Taste sensation to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue (choice B) is provided by the facial nerve. The chordae tympani branch of the facial nerve travels with the lingual nerve to reach the tongue.
The constrictor muscles of the pharynx (choice C) are innervated by the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve fibers contribute to the pharyngeal plexus.
The muscles of the soft palate (choice D) are mostly innervated by the vagus nerve. The tensor palati is innervated by the trigeminal nerve.
The muscles of the tongue (choice E) are innervated by the hypoglossal nerve.
at laaaaaast..
btw..on a serious note..awesome work raji, thx for all these wonderful questions,and prompt answers.
u r w..
catch u tomarrow...