Intermediate Tympanic Membrane Quiz

Q1. Which three tissue layers form the pars tensa of the tympanic membrane?

• Endothelial, osseous, and mucosal layers
• Cutaneous, fibrous, and mucosal layers
• Periosteal, muscular, and epithelial layers
• Mucosal, cartilaginous, and neural layers

Q2. What is distinctive about the middle layer of the pars flaccida compared with the pars tensa?

• It is composed mainly of skeletal muscle
• It lacks the well-developed organized fibrous layer
• It contains hyaline cartilage
• It contains cochlear hair cells

Q3. Which nerve is an important source of sensory innervation to the external surface of the tympanic membrane?

• Recurrent laryngeal nerve
• Auriculotemporal nerve
• Greater petrosal nerve
• Hypoglossal nerve

Q4. Which nerve contributes sensory innervation to the internal surface of the tympanic membrane?

• Hypoglossal nerve, CN XII
• Accessory nerve, CN XI
• Glossopharyngeal nerve, CN IX
• Optic nerve, CN II

Q5. Which artery contributes importantly to the external surface of the tympanic membrane?

• Central retinal artery
• Ascending pharyngeal artery only
• Deep auricular artery
• Superior cerebellar artery

Q6. What forms the anterior and posterior malleolar folds?

• Mucosal folds covering the cochlear promontory
• Folds extending from the lateral process of the malleus
• Ligaments extending from the stapes footplate
• Folds surrounding the round window

Q7. Which quadrant is commonly selected for myringotomy when anatomy and clinical circumstances permit?

• Superior margin at the lateral process of the malleus
• Pars flaccida directly
• Posterosuperior quadrant
• Anteroinferior quadrant

Q8. Why is the posterosuperior region of the tympanic membrane clinically important during procedures?

• The internal carotid artery lies directly within the membrane
• Important ossicular and chorda tympani relationships lie nearby
• The cochlear nerve crosses its external surface
• The vestibular ganglion is embedded in this quadrant

Q9. Which embryologic structures contribute to formation of the tympanic membrane?

• Neural tube and otic vesicle only
• Second pharyngeal pouch only
• Third and fourth pharyngeal arches only
• First pharyngeal cleft, intervening mesenchyme, and first pharyngeal pouch

Q10. Why does the tympanic membrane appear cone-shaped when viewed from the external acoustic meatus?

• The stapes pushes the membrane laterally
• The cochlea pulls the annulus medially
• The auditory tube elevates the inferior membrane
• The malleus draws the central membrane medially at the umbo