9,10. Lymph Nodes, Mucous Membranes

Question 1

Methods of examination of lymph nodes

Answer 1

• inspection
• palpation

Additionally:
- aspiration
- biopsy
- excision
- extirpation
- x-ray, USG, CT, MR

Question 2

What do we check in lymph nodes

Answer 2

1. Size: >x1,5 suspicious
2. Shape: ellipsoidal/round shape/special
3. Consistency: soft rubber (firm)
4. Structure: homogenous/ non-homogenous (lobulated)
5. Pain: painful/ not painful
6. Movability: unattached to surrounding tissues (no adhesions, easily movable)
7. Surface: smooth or regular/ irregular
8. Skin above: temperature, intactness, elasticity
9. Symmetricity: compare

Six S

Question 3

What is description of normal lymph node

Answer 3

Normal size (dependent on species and breed), round/ellipsoidal shape, soft rubber consistency, homogenous, not painful, easily movable, smooth surface, normal skin around (temperature, intactness, elasticity), lymph nodes are symmetrical

Question 4

What lymph nodes can we palpate in healthy dog and cat?

Answer 4

1. Mandibular/submandibular lnn (lnn. mandibulares)
2. Prescapular lnn (lnn. cervicales superficiales)
3. Popliteal lnn (*lnn. poplitei superficiales)

Question 5

What lymph nodes we can’t palpate in healthy pets but can when they are pathologically enlarged?

Answer 5

1. Retropharyngeal lnn (lnn. retropharyngei)
2. Parotid lnn (lnn. parotidei)
3. Axillary lnn (lnn. axillares)
4. Superficial inguinal lnn (lc. inguinale superficiale)
5. Mesenteric lnn (lnn. mesenterici)

Question 6

Methods to evaluate mucous membranes

Answer 6

• inspection
• palpation
• smelling

Additionally:
- endoscopy
- USG
- x-ray, contrast x-ray
- discharge, secretion: quantitative, qualitative, microbiology, cytology

Question 7

What mucous membranes do we check?

Answer 7

1. Conjunctiva
2. Nasal mm
3. Oral mm
4. Anal mm
5. Genital mm

Question 8

What do we check in case of mucous membrane?

Answer 8

1. Colour
2. Moisture (mucus, quantity, quality)
3. Membrane vessels (injection, haemorrhages)
4. Surface (intactness, smoothness, chemosis)
5. CRT

Question 9

Normal description of mucus membrane

Answer 9

Light pink (pigmented), smooth (conjunctiva: moderately ruffled), shiny, moist, intact, blood vessels can be slightly recognised, CRT < 2 sec

Conjunctiva: symmetrical

Question 10

Abnormal findings in mucus membrane

Answer 10

• pale
• cyanotic
• yellow
• dull, dry, sticky
• livid
• haemorrhage
• dirty red
• lesions
• brown
• cherry red
• injected
• swelling (chemosis)