head, face, neck, lymph assessment - Sheet1 Flashcards
What are the main cranial bones of the skull?
Frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal bones.
What are sutures in the skull?
Immovable joints that mesh adjacent cranial bones, allowing head shape changes at birth. They ossify in early childhood.
What does the face reflect?
The face reflects mood and expressions formed by facial muscles controlled by CN VII (facial nerve).
What should be symmetric on the face during assessment?
Eyebrows, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and palpebral fissures.
What structures are located in the neck?
Vessels, muscles, nerves, lymphatics, and viscera of the respiratory and digestive systems.
What is the function of the thyroid gland?
Synthesizes and secretes T3 and T4 hormones, which regulate the rate of cellular metabolism.
Where is the thyroid gland located?
Straddles the trachea in the middle of the neck, with two lobes connected by a thin isthmus.
What is the lymphatic system?
A vessel system that filters lymph and eliminates foreign substances to support immune function.
What is the normal drainage direction for the head and neck?
The head and neck lymph nodes drain downward.
Where are lymph nodes most accessible for examination?
Head and neck, arms, axillae, and inguinal region.
What are the names of the head and neck lymph nodes?
Preauricular, postauricular (mastoid), occipital, submental, submandibular, jugulodigastric, superficial cervical, deep cervical, posterior cervical, supraclavicular.
Where is the preauricular lymph node located?
In front of the ear.
Where is the postauricular (mastoid) lymph node located?
Superficial to the mastoid process.
Where is the submental lymph node located?
Midline, behind the tip of the mandible.
Where is the jugulodigastric lymph node located?
Under the angle of the mandible.
Where is the superficial cervical lymph node located?
Overlying the sternomastoid muscle.
Where is the supraclavicular lymph node located?
Just above and behind the clavicle, near the sternomastoid muscle.
What is a normal finding for a trachea assessment?
The trachea should be midline, with symmetrical space on both sides and no deviation from the midline.
What is the procedure for assessing the thyroid gland?
Position behind the patient, palpate thyroid as they swallow, and note if there are nodules or asymmetry.
What is an abnormal finding in thyroid assessment?
Goiter (enlargement), asymmetry, or the presence of nodules.
What does normocephalic mean when inspecting the skull?
A round, symmetric skull appropriately related to body size.
What should the temporal artery feel like when palpated?
Smooth, non-tender, with no hard bands.
What is expected when palpating the TMJ joint?
Smooth movement without limitation or tenderness when the person opens their mouth.
What should facial symmetry look like during inspection?
Symmetry of the eyebrows, palpebral fissures, nasolabial folds, and sides of the mouth.
What are abnormal facial structures to watch for?
Coarse facial features, exophthalmos, or changes in skin color or pigmentation.
What should be noted about involuntary facial movements?
None, as there should be no involuntary movements.
What is expected with neck symmetry and range of motion?
Head positioned midline, erect, and still; accessory neck muscles symmetrical.
What should be assessed when testing muscle strength and cranial nerve XI?
The ability to resist movements as the person shrugs shoulders and turns their head to each side.
What should be expected in terms of pulsations in the neck?
A brisk localized pulsation of the carotid artery just below the angle of the jaw.
What is expected when assessing the thyroid gland?
The thyroid should not be enlarged, and there should be no palpable nodules.
What are normal findings in lymph node palpation?
Normal nodes are movable, discrete, soft, and non-tender.
What are abnormal findings in lymph node palpation?
Enlarged, tender, or fixed nodes; could indicate infection or malignancy.
What are fontanels in infants?
Soft spots on the skull where the sutures intersect, allowing for brain growth during the first year.
What are the two types of fontanels?
Anterior fontanel (AF) and posterior fontanel (PF).
When does the posterior fontanel close?
The posterior fontanel closes between 1 to 2 months of age.
When does the anterior fontanel close?
The anterior fontanel closes between 9 months and 2 years of age.
What does a sunken fontanel indicate?
Dehydration, possibly due to vomiting, diarrhea, or inadequate fluid intake.
What does a bulging fontanel indicate?
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
What happens to head size in infants and children?
Head size is greater than chest circumference at birth and reaches 90% of its final size by 6 years old.
What changes occur in the thyroid gland during pregnancy?
The thyroid gland enlarges slightly due to hyperplasia and increased vascularity, making it possibly palpable.
What are some aging changes in the face?
Facial bones and orbits appear more prominent, and the face sags due to decreased elasticity, subcutaneous fat, and moisture.
What happens to the lower face in aging adults?
The lower face may look smaller due to the loss of teeth.
When should head circumference be measured in infants and children?
Measure head circumference at each visit up to age 2 years, then yearly up to age 6 years.
What should be noted about an infant’s head posture?
Infant should be able to turn their head side to side by 2 weeks of age.
When should head control be achieved in infants?
Head control is typically achieved by 4 months, when the infant can hold their head erect and steady.
What is hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is the obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, leading to excessive accumulation and increased intracranial pressure.
What are the signs of hydrocephalus in an infant?
Signs include an enlarged head, dilated scalp veins, frontal bossing, and “setting sun” eyes (sclera visible above iris).
What happens to the cranial bones in hydrocephalus?
Cranial bones thin, and sutures separate due to increased pressure.
How is hydrocephalus treated?
Hydrocephalus is treated surgically, often with the placement of a shunt to divert cerebrospinal fluid to the peritoneum.
