Neurological and HEENT Physical Assessment Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, anatomical landmarks, cranial nerve assessments, and physical exam tests from the Neurological and HEENT clinical skills checklists.

Cranial Nerve I (Olfactory Nerve)

The first cranial nerve tested by having the patient identify scents such as an alcohol swab, coffee, or toothpaste.

Cranial Nerve II (Optic Nerve)

The second cranial nerve assessed via distant visual acuity using a Snellen eye chart at 14 inches from the eyes and visual fields by confrontation.

Cranial Nerve III (Oculomotor Nerve)

Examined alongside CN IV and VI; evaluated for pupil size, regularity, equality, direct and consensual light reaction, and extraocular movements via six cardinal positions of gaze.

Cranial Nerve IV (Trochlear Nerve)

The fourth cranial nerve examined together with CN III and CN VI using the positions test across six cardinal positions of gaze.

Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal Nerve)

The fifth cranial nerve assessed by palpating temporal and masseter muscles during tooth clenching, and testing light touch sensory function on the forehead, cheeks, and chin with a cotton wisp.

Cranial Nerve VI (Abducens Nerve)

The sixth cranial nerve tested jointly with CN III and CN IV using the positions test for extraocular movements.

Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve)

The seventh cranial nerve evaluated by observing facial symmetry and mobility during smiling, frowning, closing eyes tightly against resistance, lifting eyebrows, showing teeth, and puffing cheeks.

Cranial Nerve VIII (Acoustic Nerve)

The eighth cranial nerve evaluated for auditory sensory function using the whisper test.

Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal Nerve)

The ninth cranial nerve tested with CN X by observing pharyngeal movement (uvula and soft palate rising in midline, tonsillar pillars moving medially) when saying "ahh" or yawning, and checking the gag reflex.

Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve)

The tenth cranial nerve examined concurrently with CN IX to assess pharyngeal movement and the gag reflex.

Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory Nerve)

The eleventh cranial nerve evaluated by having the patient shrug their shoulders against resistance.

Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal Nerve)

The twelfth cranial nerve inspected for tongue wasting, tremors, and midline forward thrust, as well as clear lingual speech sounds (L, T, N) when pronouncing "light, tight, and dynamite."

Tandem Walk

A motor and balance test where the patient walks toe-to-toe in a straight line to evaluate gait.

Romberg Test

An equilibrium assessment where the patient stands with feet together and arms at sides, closing eyes for 20 seconds while the examiner observes for swaying.

Spinothalamic Tract Testing

A sensory assessment evaluating a person's ability to perceive a pinprick for pain sensation.

Stereognosis

A test of fine touch tactile discrimination where a patient closes their eyes and identifies a familiar object placed in the palm of their hand.

Babinski Sign Test

A superficial plantar reflex test performed by using a tongue blade to make a light stroke upward from the lateral side of the foot to the great toe.

Distant Visual Acuity

A vision assessment using a Snellen chart where normal acuity is $20/20$ with or without corrective lenses.

Near Visual Acuity

A vision assessment using a handheld vision chart placed 14 inches from the eyes, where normal acuity is $14/14$ with or without corrective lenses.

Hirschberg Test

The corneal light reflex test performed using a penlight to observe parallel alignment of light reflection on the corneas.

Cover Test

An extraocular muscle function test using an opaque card to cover one eye while observing for eye movement.

PERRLA

A clinical acronym representing Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation.

Otoscopic Pinna Positioning

The technique of pulling the pinna up and back for adults, and down and back for children to examine the ear canal.

Cone of Light

A anatomical landmark observed on the tympanic membrane during an otoscopic exam, located at 5 o'clock in the right ear and 7 o'clock in the left ear.

Whisper Test

A hearing test performed by whispering a two-syllable word 1-2 feet behind the patient while they place a finger on the tragus of the opposite ear.

Weber Test

A hearing assessment using a vibrating tuning fork placed on the center of the head or forehead to check if sound is equal in both ears or lateralized to one ear.

Rinne Test

A hearing assessment using a tuning fork placed on the mastoid process until sound is no longer heard, then moved in front of the external ear to measure and compare bone and air conduction time intervals.

Preauricular Nodes

Lymph nodes located in front of the ears.

Postauricular Nodes

Lymph nodes located behind the ears.

Occipital Nodes

Lymph nodes located at the posterior base of the skull.

Tonsillar Nodes

Lymph nodes located at the angle of the mandible, on the anterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Submandibular Nodes

Lymph nodes located along the medial border of the mandible.

Submental Nodes

Lymph nodes located a few centimeters behind the tip of the mandible, palpated using one hand.

Superficial Cervical Nodes

Lymph nodes located superficial to the sternomastoid muscle.

Posterior Cervical Nodes

Lymph nodes located posterior to the sternocleidomastoid and anterior to the trapezius in the posterior triangle.

Deep Cervical Chain Nodes

Lymph nodes located deep within and around the sternomastoid muscle.

Supraclavicular Nodes

Lymph nodes detected by hooking fingers over the clavicles and feeling deeply between the clavicles and sternomastoid muscles.