Clinical Skills 2 - Neck Examination

Question 1

When examining the neck, what is the first thing to do on exmaintion?

Answer 1

Look for any obvious swelling or redness / tender areas

Any scars

Question 2

is the process of examintion of the neck done from behind or infront?

Answer 2

Examination of the neck is carried out with you standing behind

It is done symmetrically

Question 3

Ask patient to relax neck to release tension in the sternocleidomastoid muscles

What lymph nodes are then felt? (from chin to thyroid)

(this examintion is carried out in a Zshape remember)

Answer 3

Start with submental nodes
Then submandibular, pre auricular (parotid)

Then feel for the sternocleiodmastoid and go for the jugular lymph nodes in the anterior triangle and by the time at the bottom of the neck we are at the thyroid

Question 4

On examintion of the thyroid feel for nay lumps or bumps, what do you ask patinet to do?

Answer 4

Ask the patinet to swallow and ensure the thyroid rises with the lump

Ask patient to stick out tongue and if there is a lump that rises - most likely thyroglossal duct cyst

Question 5

After the thyroid, what is examined? (continuation of lymph nodes)

Answer 5

Work your way from the postauricular nodes down the posterior traingle and to the occiptal nodes

Then look for nodes in the supraclavicular fossa