Ch. 17 (Nose, Mouth, & Throat) Flashcards
What are the functions of the nose?
warms & filters air
In relation to the anatomy of the nose, what are the oval openings called?
nares
In relation to the anatomy of the nose, what divides the nasal cavity?
septum
In relation to the anatomy of the nose, what three parallel boney projections allow for the sinuses and tears to drain into the nose, called?
turbinates
In relation to the anatomy of the nose, what are the air filled pockets that lighten the weight of skull and secrete mucus to the nose, called?
sinuses
What hangs from the soft palate in the back of your throat?
uvula
What are the bumpy elevations of tongue surface called?
papillae
What thin strand tissue connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth?
frenulum
What subjective data do we collect in relation to the nose?
- discharge
- frequent colds/URIs
- sinus pain
- trauma
- epistaxis (nosebleeds)
- allergies
- altered smell
What subjective data do we collect in relation to the mouth and throat?
- sores/lesions
- sore throat
- bleeding gums
- toothache
- hoarseness
- dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- altered taste
- smoking/ETOH
- self care behaviors
What are some natural symptoms for an aging adult in relation to the mouth and throat?
- decreased sense of smell and tasting
- decreased saliva production/dry mouth
- dental changes
What equipment is needed for a physical exam in relation to the mouth, throat, and nose?
- tongue depressor
- pen light
- gloves
- gauze
- otoscope
What cranial nerve is in charge of the olfactory sense (smell)?
cranial nerve I
(you have one nose)
What do we inspect when inspecting the nasal cavity?
- deviation
- perforation
- mucosa
- color
When figuring out whether or not a patient has allergies or rhinitis (cold), what color is associated with each in the nasal mucosa?
- rhinitis (cold): really deep, red mucosa
- allergies: pale, grayish appearance
What condition is associated with cracking at the corners of the lips?
cheilitis
What condition is associated with cherry red lips?
CO posioning
What symptoms are associated with herpes semplex 1?
- cold sore
- brought out by fevers and stress
- goes away in 10 days
- very contagious
What cranial nerve is in charge of the uvula rising and falling in the mouth?
CN X (vagus nerve)
How do you test cranial nerve X?
checking the uvula and asking patient to say “ah”
* midline
* rising
When assessing the tonsils, you can grade the tonsils on a scale.
When you see the tonsils on the side and their barely visible, where on the scale would the tonsils be graded?
+1
When assessing the tonsils, you can grade the tonsils on a scale.
When you see the tonsils touching the uvula, where on the scale would the tonsils be graded?
+3
When assessing the tonsils, you can grade the tonsils on a scale.
When you see the tonsils are halfway between the anterior tonsillar pillar and uvula, where on the scale would the tonsils be graded?
+2
When assessing the tonsils, you can grade the tonsils on a scale.
When you see the tonsils touching each other, where on the scale would the tonsils be graded?
kissing tonsils (+4)
When you ask the patient to stick out their tongue, what cranial nerve are you testing?
CN XII
* want the tongue to stick straight out
Nosebleeding is medically defined as what?
epistaxis
Abnormalities of the nose
- epistaxis
- foreign body
- perforated septum
- furuncle (boil, blocked gland)
- acute rhinitis (beefy, red)
- allergic rhinitis (enlarged, pale/gray)
- sinusitis (bacteria in mucus causing inflammation)
- nasal polyps (smooth gray, usually with chronic allergies)
Abnormalities of the lips
- herpes simplex 1 (lesion filled with fluid/vesicular lesion)
- cheilitis
- carcinoma (sore that won’t go away, usually cancerous)
- mucucele (cyst filled with saliva fluid in the mouth)
Abnormalities of the teeth
- baby bottle tooth decay (usually caused when baby is left with bottle in the bed)
- dental caries
- gingivitis
Abnormalities of the tongue
- leukoplakia (white patch on the tongue or mouth that won’t go away, most of the time cancerous)
Abnormalities of the throat
- acute tonsilitis and pharyngitis
when assessing the sinuses through palpation, how do you go about it?
- press over frontal sinuses (above eyebrows)
- press over maxillary sinuses (below eyes)
