Head to Neck Assessment: Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses

Flashcards defining key clinical terms and diagnostic signs for head-to-neck assessment of the ears, nose, mouth, throat, and sinuses based on lecture notes.

Tympanic membrane

The structure separating the external ear from the middle ear, which normally appears pearly, gray, shiny, translucent, slightly concave, smooth, and intact.

Darwin's tubercle

A clinically insignificant projection that may be observed on the auricle of the ear.

Tophi

Nontender, hard, cream-colored nodules on the helix or antihelix that contain uric acid crystals, associated with gout.

Otitis externa

An external ear condition characterized by symptoms such as redness, swelling, scaling, itching, pain at the auricle or tragus, and foul-smelling, sticky, yellow discharge.

Mastoiditis

An infection indicated by tenderness over the mastoid process upon palpation.

Cerumen

Earwax secreted in the external auditory canal, normally odorless and varying in color from yellow to black and in consistency from soft to hard.

Exostoses

Nonmalignant nodular swellings found along the ear canal walls.

Acute otitis media

A middle ear infection presenting with a red, bulging eardrum along with a distorted, diminished, or absent light reflex.

Serous otitis media

A condition of the middle ear marked by a yellowish, bulging tympanic membrane with visible bubbles behind it.

Whisper test

A hearing assessment performed from 2 feet behind the client where identifying three out of six whispered two-syllable words is considered passing.

Weber's test

A hearing test using a tuning fork placed at the center of the head to evaluate sound conduction through bone and differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Rinne test

A test comparing air conduction and bone conduction sound, where normal findings show air conduction heard longer than bone conduction ($AC > BC$).

Romberg test

A test evaluating equilibrium where the client stands with feet together and eyes closed for 20 seconds without significant swaying.

Presbycusis

Age-related generalized hearing loss across all frequencies in older adults, initially presenting as a loss of high-frequency sounds such as f, s, sh, and ph.

Stenson's ducts

The parotid gland ducts located on the buccal mucosa across from the second upper molars.

Leukoplakia

A precancerous white lesion on the oral mucosa associated with chronic irritation and smoking.

Thrush

Oral Candida albicans infection characterized by whitish, curd-like patches that scrape off over reddened mucosa and bleed easily.

Wharton's ducts

Openings from the submandibular salivary glands located on either side of the frenulum on the floor of the mouth.

Circumoral pallor

Paleness around the lips, commonly observed in cases of anemia and shock.

Fetor hepaticus

A distinct sulfur breath odor associated with end-stage liver disease.

Bifid uvula

A uvula that appears split in two or partially severed, commonly found in Native Americans.

Tonsil Grading Scale

A 1+ to 4+ rating system for tonsil size: 1+ is visible, 2+ is midway between pillars and uvula, 3+ touches the uvula, and 4+ touches each other.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the throat characterized by a bright red posterior pharyngeal wall accompanied by white or yellow exudate.

Epistaxis

Bleeding from the nose, commonly noted on the lower anterior part of the nasal septum.

Sinus crepitus

A crackling sensation felt during palpation over the maxillary sinuses when a large amount of exudate is present.