Head and Neck Lab Vocabulary Flashcards
Alopecia
Hair loss
Angular cheilosis
Reddish inflammation of the lip or lips ad production of fissures that radiate from the angles of the mouth
Anosmia
Absence of the sense of smell
May be due to lesion of the olfactory nerve, obstruction of the nasal fossae, or functional without any apparent causative lesion
Branchial cleft cyst
A congenital lesion due to the incomplete involution of The branchial cleft which is usually located in the lateral neck
Bulging fontanelle
A condition of the fontanel that may indicate increased intracranial pressure
Caries
Microbial destruction or necrosis of teeth
Cerumen
The soft, brownish yellow, waxy secretion (a modified sebum) of the ceruminous glands of the external auditory meatus
Cheilitis
Inflammation and cracking of the lips
Cholesteatoma
A mass of keratinizing squamous epithelium and cholesterol in the middle ear, usually caused by chronic otitis media, with squamous metaplasia or extension of squamous epithelium inward to line an expanding cystic cavity that may involve the mastoid and erode surrounding bone
Craniosynostosis
Premature closure of sutures of the skull in an infant
Chloasma (mask of pregnancy)
A common facial discoloration in pregnancy
Encephalocele
A neural tube defect with protrusions of brain and membranes that cover the openings in the skull
Epistaxis
Bleeding from the nose
Epstein pearls
Multiple small, white, epithelial inclusion cysts found in the midline of the palate in newborn infants
Fordyce spots
Ectopic sebaceous glands of the buccal mucosa appearing as small yellow-white raised lesions found on the inner surface and vermilion border of the lips
Frenulum
Small fold of tissue that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth
Gingivitis
Inflammation of the gingiva (gums)
Hyperthyroidism
Overactivity of the thyroid gland
Hypothyroidism
Underactivity of the thyroid gland
Koplik’s spots
Small red spots with bluish-white centers on the buccal mucosa opposite the molar teeth, appearing in the prodromal stage of measles
Leukoplakia
Circumscribed, firmly attached, thick white patches on the tongue and other mucous membranes, often occurring as a precancerous growth
Often this is associated with pipe smoking and snuff
Microencephaly
Abnormal smallness of the head
Molding
The size and shaping of the head of a newborn in accommodation to the birth canal
Oropharynx
Area of the throat that is located between the mouth and nasopharynx
Ossification
Formation of bone tissue
Otitis externa
Inflammation of the auditory canal, usually due to bacterial or fungal infection
Swimming, cerumen accumulation, foreign body, and trauma may all be predisposing factors
Otitis media
Inflammation/infection of the middle ear or tympanum
Otosclerosis
Deposits of bone resulting in the immobilization of the stapes
Peritonsillar abscess
Deep infection in the space between the soft palate and tonsil
Pharyngitis
Inflammation/infection of the mucous membrane and underlying parts of the pharynax
Pinna
Projecting shell-like structure on the side of the head
a.k.a. Auricle
Presbycusis
The impairment of hearing due to aging
Rhinitis
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa
Rhinorrhea
A thin watery discharge from the nose
Thyroglossal duct cyst
A palpable cystic mass in the neck due to incomplete closure of the thyroglossal duct
Tinnitus
An auditory sensation in the absence of sound heard in one or both ears, such as a ringing, buzzing, hissing or clicking
Tophi
Small, whitish uric acid crystals along the peripheral margins of the auricles in persons who may have gout
Torticollis (“wry neck”)
Abnormal contraction of the neck muscles resulting in an unnatural positioning of the head
Torus mandibularis
A bony protuberance on the lingual aspect of the lower jaw in the canine-premolar region
Torus palatinus
A bony protuberance in the midline of the hard palate
Tympanosclerosis
The formation of dense connective tissue in the middle ear, often resulting in hearing loss when the ossicles are involved
Uvula
Conical projection of the posterior margin of the soft palate
Vertigo
Illusion of rotational movement in a patient that is often associated with an inner ear disorder
Webbing
Excessive posterior cervical skin that is associated with chromosomal anomalies
Xerostomia
Dry mouth
