Head & Neck Assessment Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering head, neck, eye, ear, and endocrine physical assessment key concepts and visual signs.

Thrush

An oral fungal infection (Candida) characterized by white patches on the tongue and oral mucosa.

Stomatitis

Inflammation of the oral mucosa, often appearing as painful sores or ulcers inside the lips or mouth.

Dental Caries

Tooth decay or cavities resulting from the breakdown of tooth enamel and dentin.

Uvular Deviation

Asymmetry in which the uvula points away from the midline, often associated with cranial nerve dysfunction or peritonsillar pathology.

Circumoral Cyanosis

A bluish discoloration around the mouth and lips, indicating tissue hypoxia or decreased peripheral perfusion.

Strep Pharyngitis

Acute inflammation of the pharynx caused by Group A Streptococcus, presenting with red throat mucosa, swollen tonsils, and white exudate.

Trail's Sign

Indicates tracheal deviation, observed as undue prominence of the clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the side to which the trachea is deviated.

Lymphadenopathy

Enlargement of the lymph nodes, commonly resulting from infection, inflammation, or malignancy.

Goiter

An abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland visible or palpable in the lower neck.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing, which requires prompt recognition to avoid severe complications like aspiration pneumonia.

Nursing Bedside Swallow Screen

A screening tool used by nurses prior to oral intake to evaluate dysarthria, aphasia, and swallowing safety.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis

A endocrine feedback loop where TRH from the hypothalamus stimulates TSH from the anterior pituitary, which in turn triggers T3 and T4 secretion from the thyroid.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

An autoimmune disease resulting in the destruction of thyroid cells, serving as the primary cause of hypothyroidism.

Levothyroxine (Synthroid)

Synthetic thyroid hormone replacement medication prescribed for hypothyroidism, which must be taken daily on an empty stomach.

Hypothyroidism Lab Profile

Hormone levels characteristic of an underactive thyroid, presenting as elevated TSH ($\uparrow \text{TSH}$) and low thyroid hormone ($\downarrow \text{T3/T4}$).

Hyperthyroidism Lab Profile

Hormone levels characteristic of an overactive thyroid, presenting as elevated thyroid hormone ($\uparrow \text{T3/T4}$) and low TSH ($\downarrow \text{TSH}$).

Myxedema Coma

A life-threatening complication of unmanaged hypothyroidism precipitated by stress or illness, featuring acute facial edema, sparse hair, hypothermia, and organ failure.

Exophthalmos

An abnormal protrusion or bulging of the eyes commonly seen in hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.

Thyroid Storm (Thyrotoxic Crisis)

A life-threatening condition caused by extreme hyperthyroidism, characterized by high fever ($100^{\circ}\text{F}$ to $106^{\circ}\text{F}$), severe tachycardia (up to $200\,\text{bpm}$), and cardiovascular strain.

Strabismus

A visual condition where ocular alignment is abnormal, causing the eyes to point in different directions.

Chalazion

A painless cyst or nodule on the eyelid caused by a blocked meibomian gland.

Ptosis

An abnormal drooping of the upper eyelid over the eye.

Jaundice (Scleral Icterus)

Yellowing of the sclera resulting from elevated serum bilirubin levels.

Mydriasis

Excessive or abnormal dilation of the pupil.

Coloboma

A congenital gap or defect in eye structures, often creating a keyhole-shaped pupil.

Miosis

Excessive constriction or narrowing of the pupil.

Anisocoria

A condition characterized by asymmetrical or unequal pupil sizes.

Rosenbaum Card

A handheld pocket vision chart used for testing near visual acuity.

Snellen Chart

A standardized chart used to measure distance visual acuity at a distance of $20\,\text{feet}$.

Cauliflower Ear

An acquired deformity of the external ear caused by trauma or hematoma leading to cartilage necrosis and scarring.

Ear Carcinoma

A skin cancer lesion appearing on the auricle or pinna, frequently associated with sun damage.

Tophi

Hard, non-tender nodules on the pinna formed by uric acid crystal deposits in patients with gout.

Microtia

A congenital anomaly where the external ear is partially formed or abnormally small.

Anotia

A severe congenital anomaly characterized by the complete absence of the external ear and auditory canal.

Halo Sign

A diagnostic finding on paper or gauze where blood is surrounded by a clear ring of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), indicating a skull fracture and CSF leak.

Normal Tympanic Membrane

A healthy eardrum that appears intact, pearly gray, smooth, shiny, and slightly concave with a distinct light reflex.

Whisper Test

A simple physical exam technique used to screen for hearing impairment by whispering words while occluding the opposite ear.

Weber Test

A tuning fork assessment placed on the forehead; lateralization to the impaired ear indicates conductive hearing loss, while lateralization to the unimpaired ear indicates sensorineural loss.

Rinne Test

A tuning fork test comparing air conduction (AC) to bone conduction (BC); normal finding is AC > BC, whereas BC > AC indicates conductive hearing loss.