chapter 1 Face and Neck Regions

regions of the face include

frontal, orbital, nasal, infraorbital, zygomatic, buccal, oral, and mental regions

lymph nodes

bean shaped bodies grouped in clusters along the connecting lymphatic vessels

lymph node palpation

if felt when palpated, it should be noted

frontal region

the face including the forehead and the area above the eyes

frontal region examined

area above the eyes and forehead is visually inspected and bilaterally palpated

orbital region

the eyeballs and all of its supporting structures contained in the orbitor

orbit

bony eye socket

orbital region examined

visually inspect eye, their movements and response to light and action

nasal region

external nose

root of the nose

located between the eyes

apex of the nose

tip of the nose

nares

inferior to the apex on each side

nasal septum

separates the nares by the midlin

ala

winglike cartilaginous structures bounded laterally to the nares

nasal region examined

visually inspected and bilaterally palpated by starting at the root of the nose and proceeding to its apex

infraorbital region

inferior to the orbital region and lateral to the nasal region

zygomatic region

farther lateral than the infraorbital region

zygomatic arch

extends just below the lateral margin of the eye toward the middle part of the external ear

temporomandibular joint- TMJ

inferior to zygomatic arch and anterior to the external ear

TMJ is where…

the upper skull forms a joint with the lower jaw

TMJ examined

finger is gently placed in external ear canal during movement of opening and closing of mouth

buccal region

composed of the soft tissue of the cheek that forms the side of the face

masseter muscle

one of the muscles forming the cheek that is very strong

angle of the mandible

sharp angle of the lower jaw inferior to the earlobe

parotid salivary gland

small part that can be palpated in the buccal and zygomatic regions

infraorbital, zygomatic, and buccal regions examined

visually inspect and bilaterally palpate each side of the face, asking the patient to clench the teeth together several times

Atypical finding of cheek examination

tenderness and pain associated with maxillary sinusitis and noise or deviation of lower jaw on opening

abnormal findings during cheek examination

facial paralysis, stroke, TMD with limitations of movements, subluxation or pain on TMJ movement

oral region

many structures such as lips and oral cavity

the upper and lower lips mark the gateway of the oral cavity proper

vermilion border

areas that are redder in color with variations as to tone on the lips

vermillion zone

each lip has a darker reddish appearance than the surrounding skin

mucocutaneous junction

lips outlined from the surrounding skin by a transition zone

philtrum

vertical grove extending downward from the nasal septum

tubercle of the upper lip

termination of the philtrum into a thicker are of the midline of the upper lip

labial commissure

corner of the mouth where the upper and lower lips meet

maxilla

upper jawmand

mandible

lower jaw

lips examined

bidigitally palpated as well as visually inspected in a systematic manner, from one commissure to the other

mental region

chin area of face

mandibular symphysis

marked midline of mandible

ramus

stout flat plate that extends superiorly and posteriorly on each side of the mandible

coronoid process

thin sharp margin on anterior border of ramus

coronoid notch

where anterior border of ramus forms concave forward curve

mandibular condyle

thick posterior border of ramus that extends from the angle of the mandible to a projection

mandibular notch

depression between the coronoid process and mandibular condyle

mental region examined

visually inspected and bilaterally palpated

regions of the neck are

extended from the skull and lower jaw down to the clavicles and sternum

sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

large strap muscle that is easily palpated on each side of the neck of a patienth

hyoid bone

anterior midline that is suspended in the neck and control the position of the base of the tongue

thyroid cartilage

found in the anterior midline and inferior to the hyoid bone

larynx

prominence of the thyroid cartilage;

considered the “voice box”

vocal cords

ligaments of the larynx that are attached to the posterior surface of the thyroid cartilage

thyroid gland location

inferior to the thyroid cartilage at the junction of the larynx and trachea

parathyroid glands

endocrine glands located close to or within the posterior aspect of each side of the thyroid gland but can’t be palpated

submandibular salivary gland examined

palpating inward from the inferior border of the mandible near its angle as the patient lowers the chin

push the tissue in the area over the bony inferior border of the mandible on each side, where is it grasped and rolled

sublingual salivary gland examined

palpate during intraoral examination by palpating the floor of the mouth behind each mandibular canine with one hand placed intraorally and the other placed extraorally

thyroid gland examined

place one hand on one side of the trachea and gently displacing the thyroid tissue tot he other side of the neck while the other hand palpates the displaced gland tissue

hyoid bone examined

feeling inferior to and medial to the angles of the mandible

do not confuse it with the inferiorly placed thyroid cartilage when palpating the neck