Head, Face, Neck, and Lymphatics Physical Assessment

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on physical assessment terminology, cranial and facial abnormalities, developmental considerations, and anatomical structures.

Left Supraclavicular Lymph Node

A lymph node located above the left clavicle; palpation of an enlarged node in this location indicates thoracic or abdominal malignancy.

Caput Succedaneum

Edema and ecchymosis on the presenting part of an infant's head resulting from birth trauma; it crosses suture lines and resolves within the first few days of life.

Cephalhematoma

Subperiosteal bleeding over a cranial bone caused by birth trauma; it is well defined, does not cross suture lines, may persist up to 3 months, and carries a higher risk for jaundice.

Chloasma

A hyperpigmented facial skin discoloration, also referred to as the 'mask of pregnancy', that may develop during pregnancy.

Bell's Palsy

A peripheral lower motor neuron lesion of Cranial Nerve VII causing rapid onset of ipsilateral upper and lower facial asymmetry, weakness, or paralysis.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

A central upper motor neuron lesion causing lower facial muscle paralysis on the contralateral side while sparing upper facial movements, such as forehead wrinkling.

Torticollis

A condition in infants characterized by contraction or tightness of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle, resulting in a head tilt to the affected side and face rotation to the opposite side.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A congenital condition caused by maternal alcohol consumption, characterized by dysmorphic facial features such as short palpebral fissure length, a smooth philtrum, and a thin upper lip.

Enencephalocele

A neural tube defect where nervous system tissue protrudes through a developmental defect in the skull.

Thyroid Bruit

A soft, blowing vascular sound auscultated over an enlarged thyroid gland, indicating hyperthyroidism.

Craniosynostosis

Premature closure and fusion of one or more cranial sutures in an infant, leading to an abnormal head shape.

Plagiocephaly

Asymmetric flattening of the infant head shape, commonly resulting from positional pressure.

Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)

The cranial nerve that supplies motor function to the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles; assessed by having the patient shrug shoulders against resistance.

Normocephalic

Term describing a round, symmetric skull that is appropriately proportioned to body size.

Crepitus

An abnormal crackling or grating sensation felt or heard during movement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) upon opening the mouth.

Cushing's Syndrome

A hormonal disorder resulting from excessive cortisol secretion, characterized by facial roundness ('moon face'), prominent cheeks, and fat deposition.

Fontanels

Unossified, membrane-covered spaces between cranial bones in infants, including the anterior and posterior fontanels, which allow skull molding during birth.

Myxedema

A severe form of hypothyroidism presenting with non-pitting edema, coarse facial features, and dull, dry skin.

Paget's Disease

A skeletal disorder characterized by excessive bone breakdown and chaotic bone formation, leading to enlarged and deformed cranial bones.

Acromegaly

A condition caused by excessive growth hormone secretion in adulthood, marked by enlargement of facial bones, jaw, and extremities.