Assessment of Mouth, Throat, Nose & Sinuses

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical structures, assessment techniques, risk factors, and normal versus abnormal findings for the mouth, throat, nose, and sinuses.

Hard palate

The bony anterior portion of the roof of the mouth that separates oral and nasal cavities and aids in speech and swallowing.

Soft palate

The posterior muscular portion of the palate that rises to close off the nasopharynx during swallowing and speaking.

Uvula

Midline soft tissue that hangs from the soft palate; helps close nasopharynx and triggers gag reflex.

Lingual frenulum

Thin mucous-membrane fold that anchors the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

Wharton duct

Excretory duct of the submandibular gland opening on each side of the frenulum under the tongue.

Stensen duct

Parotid gland duct that opens opposite the upper second molar in the buccal mucosa.

Superior turbinate

Uppermost nasal concha that warms, filters, and humidifies inhaled air.

Middle turbinate

Middle nasal concha involved in air filtration and drainage of frontal and maxillary sinuses.

Inferior turbinate

Largest nasal concha primarily responsible for humidifying and filtering inspired air.

Frontal sinus

Air-filled cavity in the frontal bone above the eyes; subject to transillumination in assessment.

Maxillary sinus

Largest paranasal sinus located in the maxilla; commonly infected in sinusitis.

Ethmoid sinuses

Multiple small air cells between the eyes that drain into the superior and middle meatuses.

Sphenoid sinus

Sinus located in the sphenoid bone deep to the nasopharynx; difficult to examine directly.

Nasopharynx

Upper section of the pharynx behind the nasal cavity; contains pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids).

Oropharynx

Portion of pharynx behind the oral cavity extending from soft palate to epiglottis.

Laryngopharynx

Lowest segment of pharynx that opens into larynx and esophagus.

Primary risk factors for oral cancer

Tobacco use, heavy alcohol, prolonged sun, HPV infection, male gender, fair skin, age >45, poor oral hygiene, poor diet, immunosuppression, marijuana use, betel nut chewing.

Betel nut

Areca nut chewed with lime; recognized carcinogen increasing oral cancer risk.

Components of nursing oral history

Present concern, nose/sinus symptoms, mouth/throat symptoms, past history, family history, lifestyle (tobacco, alcohol, diet, hygiene).

Basic oral assessment steps

Inspect lips → mouth odor → teeth & gums → tongue & mucosa → external nose & airflow → throat inspection.

Focused specialty assessment

Palpate buccal mucosa & tongue, inspect Wharton & Stensen ducts, test tongue strength & taste, inspect palates/uvula/tonsils, otoscopic nasal exam, palpate-percuss-transilluminate sinuses.

Transillumination of sinuses

Passing light through frontal or maxillary sinuses to detect fluid or opacification.

Patency of airflow

Test in which patient occludes one nostril and breathes through the other to ensure openness.

Herpes simplex (cold sore)

Painful recurrent vesicular lesions on lip caused by HSV-1 infection.

Cheilosis

Cracking and inflammation at lip corners, often due to riboflavin deficiency or drooling.

Leukoplakia

White, non-scrapable oral plaque considered premalignant until proven otherwise.

Hairy leukoplakia

Corrugated white patches on lateral tongue caused by Epstein–Barr virus, common in immunocompromised patients.

Candida albicans (Thrush)

Creamy white removable plaques on mucosa from fungal overgrowth, often after antibiotics or immunosuppression.

Vitamin B12 deficiency (glossitis)

Smooth, beefy-red tongue and possible burning sensation due to cobalamin lack.

Black hairy tongue

Elongated filiform papillae stained black or brown, linked to antibiotics, poor hygiene, smoking.

Carcinoma of tongue

Malignant ulcer or mass usually on lateral border or base of tongue; strongly tied to tobacco & alcohol.

Canker sore (aphthous ulcer)

Painful, small, round ulcer with erythematous halo on oral mucosa, non-infectious.

Tonsil grading scale

1+ visible, 2+ midway to uvula, 3+ touch uvula, 4+ touch each other.

Gingivitis

Inflammation of gums with redness, swelling, and bleeding due to plaque buildup.

Receding gums

Gingival margin pulls away from teeth exposing roots, common with aging and periodontal disease.

Streptococcal pharyngitis

Bacterial throat infection with erythema, exudates, fever; requires antibiotic therapy.

Deviated septum

Nasal septum displaced from midline causing obstruction or breathing difficulty.

Nasal polyp

Soft, painless benign overgrowth of nasal mucosa often associated with allergies or asthma.

Perforated septum

Hole in nasal septum producing whistling sound or crusting, due to trauma or drug use.

Older-adult oral variations

Dry mucosa, receding gums, varicose tongue veins, diminished taste & smell, reduced self-care.

Torus palatinus

Bony ridge along midline hard palate; benign anatomical variant.

Bifid uvula

Uvula split into two lobes; may accompany submucous cleft palate.

Cleft palate

Congenital failure of palate fusion producing opening between oral and nasal cavities.

Cleft lip

Congenital separation of upper lip often occurring with cleft palate.

Fissured tongue

Deep grooves on dorsal tongue surface; benign but may accumulate debris.

Fordyce granules

Ectopic sebaceous glands appearing as small yellow-white papules on lips or buccal mucosa.

Tongue strength test

Patient presses tongue against cheek or examiner’s finger to evaluate hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) function.