Question

A 10-year-old child presents with throat pain, fever, and ear pain. He is diagnosed with recurrent tonsillitis. Which nerve is responsible for the ear pain in this patient?

• A. Tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve
• B. Greater auricular nerve
• C. Auriculotemporal nerve
• D. Auricular branch of the vagus nerve

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The scenario involves a 10-year-old child experiencing throat pain, fever, and ear pain, diagnosed with recurrent tonsillitis. To determine the nerve responsible for the ear pain, we must first understand the anatomical connections of nerves related to the throat and ear.

Tonsillitis, characterized by inflammation of the tonsils, typically causes throat pain. This inflammation can also lead to referred pain in the ear due to shared nerve pathways. In this case, the pain is transmitted through the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

The glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX) primarily supplies the oropharynx and tonsillar region. The tympanic branch, also known as Jacobson's nerve, projects to the tympanic cavity, and its connection with the middle ear can result in referred pain to the ear from oropharyngeal issues like tonsillitis.

Therefore, the nerve responsible for the ear pain in this patient is the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve. This aligns with the patient’s symptoms of throat and ear pain related to tonsillar inflammation.

Option	Description
Tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve	Correct; responsible for referred ear pain in tonsillitis.
Greater auricular nerve	Incorrect; supplies skin over the ear and mastoid process.
Auriculotemporal nerve	Incorrect; a branch of the trigeminal nerve unrelated to tonsillar innervation.
Auricular branch of the vagus nerve	Incorrect; innervates parts of the ear but not related to tonsillar referred pain.