Nose, Mouth, and Throat

Question 1

Location of olfactory receptors

Answer 1

Roof of the nasal cavity and upper third of the septum

Question 2

CN I

Answer 2

olfactory nerve- transmits to the temporal lobe of the brain

Question 3

Two pairs of sinuses that can be examined

Answer 3

frontal, maxillary

Question 4

Frenulum

Answer 4

midline fold of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth

Question 5

Functions of the tongue

Answer 5

mastication, swallowing, teeth cleansing, speech formation, taste

Question 6

number of teeth

Answer 6

32

Question 7

each tooth composed of

Answer 7

crown, neck, root

Question 8

What separates the oropharynx from the mouth?

Answer 8

the anterior tonsillar pillar

Question 9

Age at which all temporary teeth are developed

Answer 9

2.5 years

Question 10

Changes in mouth during pregnancy

Answer 10

Gums hyperemic and softened; may bleed with toothbrushing

Question 11

Changes in nose in pregnancy

Answer 11

nasal stuffiness and epistaxis as a result of increased vascularity

Question 12

Changes in nose in the aging adult

Answer 12

Nasal hair grow stiffer and coarser, may not filter air as well. Decrease in the number of olfactory nerve fibers causes a decreased sense of smell.

Question 13

Changes in the oral cavity in the aging adult

Answer 13

1. Soft tissues atrophy, epithelium in the cheeks and tongue thins.
2. A Loss of taste buds causes an 80% reduction in taste functioning.
3. Decrease in salivary secretions.
4. Tissue ulcers easily, increasing the risk for infections and neoplasms.

Question 14

Dental changes in the aging adult

Answer 14

tooth loss, receding gums, difficulty in mastication, pain, stress on the TMJ

Question 15

Subjective Data for Nose

Answer 15

Discharge, frequent colds, sinus pain, trauma, epistaxis, allergies, altered smell

Question 16

Subjective Data for Mouth and Throat

Answer 16

sores/lesions, sore throat, toothaches, bleeding gums, hoarseness, dysphagia, altered taste, smoking, alcohol use, patient-centered care

Question 17

NMT Subjective data for Aging Adult

Answer 17

mouth dryness, tooth loss, foods the pt can no longer eat, denture care, change in taste or smell

Question 18

Objective Data for Nose

Answer 18

Note ability to sniff, any discharge, deviated septum, nasal mucosa status, turbinates. Palpate sinuses.

Question 19

Objective data for mouth

Answer 19

1. Note lips and inner surfaces
2. Teeth- absent, diseased, loose, abnormally positioned
3. Enlarged or small tongue
4. Induration under the tongue
5. Palate
6. CN Test
7. Inspect throat/tonsils
8. Gag reflex

Question 20

Enlarged tongue indicates

Answer 20

Mental retardation, hypothyroidism, acromegaly

Question 21

Small tongue indicates

Answer 21

Malnutrition

Question 22

Induration under tongue

Answer 22

May be a mass or lymphadenopathy and must be investigated

Question 23

CN X test (vagus nerve)

Answer 23

Ask pt to say “ahhhh” and observe soft palate and uvula rising in the middle.

Question 24

CN XII test (hypoglossal)

Answer 24

Have pt stick out the tongue, which should protrude in the midline.

Question 25

Candida

Answer 25

usually rubs off buccal mucosa, leaving clear or raw denuded surface

Question 26

Gag reflex

Answer 26

tests CN IX (glossopharyngeal) and CN X (vagus). Touch posterior wall with tongue blade.

Question 27

What causes yellow in aging adult’s teeth?

Answer 27

Dentin visible through worn enamel.

Question 28

Incisors in the aging adult

Answer 28

have vertical cracks from lifetime of exposure to extreme temperatures.

Question 29

What causes teeth to be loose in aging adult

Answer 29

Bone resorption

Question 30

Sinusitis

Answer 30

Most often viral, not bacterial. Major signs include mucopurulent drainage, nasal obstruction, facial pain/pressure, and loss of smell.

Question 31

Seasonal allergic rhinitis S&S

Answer 31

Turbinates usually pail, surface looks smooth and glistening. Rhinorrhea, itching of nose and eyes, lacrimation, nasal congestion, sneezing.

Question 32

Acute rhinitis

Answer 32

Clear, watery discharge which later become purulent. Sneezing, itching, cough reflex. Turbinates dark red and swollen.

Question 33

Furuncle

Answer 33

small boil in the skin or mucous membrane of the nose. Swollen, red, and painful. Avoid manipulation or trauma that may spread infection.

Question 34

Nasal polyps

Answer 34

Smooth, pale gray nodules formed by overgrowths of mucosa. Mobile and nontender. May obstruct airways. Absence of smell, feeling of a valve that moves with breathing. Often caused by chronic allergic rhinitis.

Question 35

Angular cheilitis (stomatitis, perleche)

Answer 35

Erythema, scaling, and shallow/painful fissures at the corners of the mouth due to excess salivation and candida infection. Common with edentulous persons or those with poorly fitting dentures.

Question 36

Retention cyst (mucocele)

Answer 36

round, well-defined, translucent nodule up to 1-2 cm. Pocket of mucus that forms with the duct of a minor salivary gland ruptures.