Head, Neck, Regional Lymphatics, and Airway Clinical Assessment

Vocabulary practice cards reviewing normal findings, clinical terminology, developmental milestones, and pathological deviations of the head, neck, lymphatic system, mouth, nose, and airway.

Posterior Fontanel

The triangle-shaped membrane-covered soft spot on an infant's skull that closes at approximately $1$ to $2$ months of age.

Anterior Fontanel

The diamond-shaped membrane-covered space where cranial sutures intersect in an infant, closing between $9$ and $12$ months of age.

Deciduous Teeth

The temporary set of $20$ primary teeth that erupt between $6$ months and $2$ years of age, and begin shedding around $6$ years of age.

Presyncope

A lightheaded sensation of swimming or feeling about to fall, primarily caused by decreased cardiac output and diminished cerebral blood flow.

Vertigo

A true rotational spinning sensation where the patient perceives either themselves or the surrounding room to be spinning.

Torus Palatinus

A benign, nodular bony ridge running along the midline of the hard palate.

Leukoedema

A benign, milky, bluish-gray or white-gray opaque appearance of the buccal mucosa caused by intracellular edema.

Early Childhood Caries

Infectious tooth decay occurring in one or more primary teeth in a child younger than $6$ years of age.

Epistaxis

Nosebleeds arising from nasal mucosa, often exacerbated by trauma or increased vascularity.

Microcephaly

An abnormally small skull and head size for age and sex.

Macrocephaly

An abnormally large skull and head circumference.

Circumoral Pallor

A pronounced ring of whiteness or paleness surrounding the lips, typically observed during shock or anemia in light-skinned individuals.

Stensen's Duct

The anatomical opening of the parotid gland on the buccal mucosa, visible as a small dimple opposite the second upper molar.

Fordyce Granules

Small, asymptomatic white or yellow sebaceous cysts that appear as harmless papules on the mucosa of the cheeks, lips, and tongue.

Bifid Uvula

A uvula that appears cleft or split into two lobes, commonly observed as a benign anatomical variation in Indigenous populations.

Halitosis

Foul-smelling breath caused by poor oral hygiene, localized infection, or underlying systemic disease.

Tonsil Grade +1

Tonsils that are visible behind the tonsillar pillars, considered a normal finding in healthy children and adults.

Tonsil Grade +2

Tonsils positioned halfway between the tonsillar pillars and the uvula, representing a normal healthy baseline.

Tonsil Grade +3

Tonsils that are markedly enlarged and touching the uvula, characteristic of an acute infection.

Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)

The cranial nerve assessed by inspecting muscle symmetry and having the patient shrug their shoulders and turn their head side-to-side against resistance.

Tracheal Tug

A rhythmic downward pull synchronous with systole, indicating severe acute respiratory distress or an aortic arch aneurysm.

Graves' Disease

The most common etiology of hyperthyroidism, frequently presenting with goiter, exophthalmos (bulging eyes), fatigue, and weight loss.

Caput Succedaneum

Edematous swelling and ecchymosis of the neonatal scalp caused by birth compression that crosses suture lines and spontaneously resolves within a few days.

Cephalohematoma

Subperiosteal bleeding over a cranial bone from birth trauma that does not cross suture lines, appears several hours post-birth, persists up to $3$ months, and increases the risk of neonatal jaundice.

Molding

Cranial asymmetry and prominent bone ridges produced by the overriding of parietal bones during the fetus's passage through the birth canal.

Bulging Fontanel

A tense, protruding infant fontanel associated with increased intracranial pressure (ICP).

Sunken Fontanel

A depressed, indented fontanel in an infant indicative of dehydration or malnutrition.