Nose, Mouth and Throat Assessment

Question 1

Nose

Answer 1

warms, moistens and filters inhaled air

sensory organ for smell

Question 2

Parts of the nose

Answer 2

septum, turbinates and paranasal sinuses

Question 3

septum

Answer 3

divides nasal cavity

Question 4

turbinates

Answer 4

bony projections within the nasal cavity

Question 5

paranasal sinuses

Answer 5

air filled pockets within the cranium

Question 6

Types of paranasal sinuses

Answer 6

frontal sinus
maxillary sinus
ethmoid sinus
sphenoid

Question 7

frontal sinus

Answer 7

frontal bone above and medial to the orbits

Question 8

maxillary sinus

Answer 8

maxilla (cheekbone) along the side walls of the nasal cavity

Question 9

ethmoid sinus

Answer 9

between orbits

Question 10

sphenoid

Answer 10

deep within the skull

Question 11

Mouth

Answer 11

first part of the digestive system, airway for respiratory system

Question 12

Oral Cavity

Answer 12

short passage bordered by the lips, palate, cheeks and tongue
contains teeth, gums, tongue and salivary glands

Question 13

Hard Palate

Answer 13

bone, close to front teeth, white color

Question 14

Soft Palate

Answer 14

arch of muscle, pink color

Question 15

Uvula

Answer 15

free projection hanging down from middle of the soft palate

Question 16

Tongue

Answer 16

mass of striated muscle

Question 17

Frenulum

Answer 17

midline fold of tissue that connects the tongue tot he floor of the mouth

Question 18

Salivary Glands

Answer 18

parotid, submandibular and sublingual

Question 19

Parotid glands

Answer 19

within the cheeks in front of the ear extending from the zygomatic arch down to the angle of the jaw

Question 20

Submandibular glands

Answer 20

beneath the mandible at the angle of the jaw (size of walnut)

Question 21

Sublingual glands

Answer 21

lies within the floor of the mouth under the tongue

Question 22

Salivary glands function to

Answer 22

secrete saliva, starts digestion and cleans and protects the mucosa.

Question 23

Throat (oropharynx)

Answer 23

behind the mouth and nose

oropharynx, tonsils and nasopharynx

Question 24

Oropharynx

Answer 24

separated from mouth by a fold of tissue on each side of the anterior tonsillar pillar

Question 25

Tonsils

Answer 25

mass of lymphoid tissue

Question 26

Nasopharynx

Answer 26

above the oropharynx and behind the nasal cavity; adenoids and eustachian tube openings are within the nasopharynx

Question 27

Transcultural Considerations

Answer 27

bifid uvula and cleft lip/palate

Question 28

bifid uvula

Answer 28

split uvula - approx 2% of general population

Question 29

cleft lip/palate

Answer 29

about 1:600 births

Question 30

History (Subjective): Nose

Answer 30

1. Nasal d/c
2. Frequent URI, or cold sx
3. Sinus pain/tenderness/pressure; hx of sinusitis
4. Trauma
5. Epistaxis
6. Allergies
7. Altered smell/change in sense of smell

Question 31

History (Subjective): Mouth and Throat

Answer 31

1. Mouth sores or lesions, canker sores
2. Sore throat
3. Bleeding gums
4. Toothaches, tooth sensitivity (i.e. hot, cold, sweets)
5. Hoarseness or voice changes
6. Dysphagia/ difficulty swallowing
7. Altered or change in taste
8. Hx smoking, alcohol consumption - frequency, amount.
9. Self-care behaviors - last dental exam, dentures, etc.
10. Medications

Question 32

Physical Exam/Assessment (Objective)

Answer 32

A. Inspect and palpate external nose
B. Inspect nasal cavity and Inspect turbinates
C. Palpate Sinuses (frontal and maxillary)
D. Inspect Mouth
E. Inspect Throat
F. Breath odor/halitosis

Question 33

Inspect and palpate external nose

Answer 33

note symmetry, septum midline and proportion

Question 34

Inspect Nasal Cavity

Answer 34

note color, texture/surface, d/c, swelling, bleeding, etc.

Question 35

Inspect Turbinates

Answer 35

note color and texture

Question 36

Inspect mouth

Answer 36

1. Lip color, moisture, cracking or lesions
2. Teeth - note #, caries, bite, loose teeth or abnormally positioned teeth
3. Gums - color, bleeding, gum margins
4. Tongue - color, surface characteristics and moisture. Floor of mouth or under tongue - note white patches, nodules or ulcerations
5. Buccal mucosa - color, nodules, lesions (Stensen’s Duct - opening of the parotid salivary gland)
6. Inspect palate and uvula

Question 37

Inspect Throat

Answer 37

note tonsils, color, size, grade tonsils

Question 38

Grade tonsils

Answer 38

1+ visible, 2+ halfway between tonsillar pillars and uvula, 3+ touching uvula, 4+ tonsils touching each other