Head, Face, Neck, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, and Throat Review

Flashcards for reviewing the anatomy, assessment, and common conditions of the head, face, neck, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat.

What must be completed in order to pass the course?

All course assignments and examinations.

What basic physical assessment techniques are used for the head, face, neck, nose, mouth, throat, eyes, and ears?

Inspection, palpation, auscultation, and range of motion assessment.

At what age does lymphoid tissue grow to adult size?

6 years old

How does pregnancy affect the thyroid?

The thyroid gland enlarges slightly due to hyperplasia and increased vascularity.

List common subjective data questions related to a health history regarding the head and neck.

Headache, head injury, dizziness, neck pain or limitation of motion, lumps or swelling, history of head or neck surgery.

List "Red Flag" headaches requiring immediate or urgent referral .

Severe headache reaching maximum intensity in minutes, new severe headache (especially if older than 50), headache triggered by coughing sneezing straining or sexual intercourse, headache triggered by change in position, prior headache pattern that now changes significantly (worsening, never goes away), headache with systemic signs and symptoms (fever, rash, neck stiffness, weight loss, personality changes).

What is the term for a skull that is round and symmetric?

Normocephalic

When inspecting the face, what characteristics should the nurse note?

Symmetry, facial expression, any abnormal facial structures, and any involuntary movements.

When examining lymph nodes, what characteristics should be noted if nodes are palpable?

Location, size, shape, delimitation, mobility, consistency, and tenderness.

What does a bruit indicate when auscultating the thyroid gland?

Accelerated or turbulent blood flow, indicating hyperplasia of the thyroid (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

What two common variations may be noted in a newborn's skull?

Caput succedaneum and cephalhematoma

What finding would the nurse expect when percussing the skull of an infant?

A resonant or “cracked pot” sound, which is normal before closure of fontanels.

List examples of topics to consider for health promotion of the head, face and neck.

Traumatic brain injury prevention, helmet use, safe driving practices, fall prevention.

Define hydrocephalus.

Obstruction of drainage of cerebrospinal fluid results in excessive accumulation, increasing intracranial pressure, and enlargement of the head. The face looks small compared with the enlarged cranium.

What are the characteristic facies of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)?

Narrow palpebral fissures, smooth philtrum, thin upper lip, and midfacial hypoplasia.

What are common causes of decreased visual functioning in older adults?

Cataract formation, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy

Define presbyopia.

Age related far sightedness starting after age 40.

What is the cause of cataracts?

Lens opacity resulting from a clumping of proteins in lens.

What is the cause of glaucoma?

Increased intraocular pressure

What part of vision is affected by macular degeneration?

Loss of central vision

What does PERRLA stand for?

Pupils Equal, Round, React to Light, and Accommodation

When using the ophthalmoscope, what do black numbers indicate?

Positive diopter; they focus on nearer objects.

When using the ophthalmoscope, what do red numbers indicate?

Negative diopter and focus on objects farther away.

List health history questions for the eyes

Vision difficulty, pain, strabismus, diplopia, redness, swelling, watering, discharge, history of ocular problems, glaucoma, use of glasses or contact lenses, patient-centered care.

What are common causes of decreased visual functioning in older adults?

Cataract formation, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

What test should be used to assess parallel alignment of the eyes.

Corneal light reflex assessment.

What are some key history questions for the ears?

Earache, infections, discharge, hearing loss, environmental noise, tinnitus, vertigo, and patient-centered care.

What term describes ringing, crackling, or buzzing in the ears?

Tinnitus

What term describes the sensation that the room is spinning around or feeling that you are spinning?

Vertigo

What are two major types of cerumen.

Dry and wet

What is the cause of Presbycusis?

Gradual sensorineural loss caused by nerve degeneration in inner ear or auditory nerve

How do you straighten the ear canal when using an otoscope on an adult?

Pull pinna up and back

How do you straighten the ear canal when using an otoscope on an infant?

Pull pinna down

When using the whispered voice test, how far should the examiner stand from the patient.

Arm's length behind the person(2 ft.) from the person’s ear

In what quadrant should the cone-shaped light reflex be seen on the tympanic membrane.

Anteroinferior quadrant

Common patient teaching topics for ears.

Hearing protection, cerumen management, hearing aid use and care.

What does the 1,3,6 Program refer to

Newborn Hearing Screening Timeline by 1 month: screen newborns by 3 months: diagnose hearing loss in infants by 6 months: enroll infants in early intervention programs.

What structure is inspected using a nasal speculum?

Nasal cavity.

What are common subjective data related to the nose?

Discharge, frequent colds, sinus pain, trauma, epistaxis, allergies, altered smell

At what age does salivation start in infants?

3 months

Common assessment findings for nose, mouth, and throat for the aging adult.

Nose may appear more prominent on face from loss of subcutaneous fat, In edentulous person, mouth and lips fold in, giving a “purse-string” appearance