Nose, Mouth, Throat Flashcards
Nose function
Warms, moistens, and filters
-Rich blood supply to warm inhaled air
Sensory organ for smell
Olfactory receptors (hair cells) lie at
at roof of nasal cavity and upper third of septum
Olfactory receptors merge into olfactory nerve (CN I) which…
transmits to the temporal lobe of the brain.
Sense of smell—enhances
pleasure and taste of food
Upper one-third of external nose
composed of bone; lower part is cartilage
Paranasal sinuses
air-filled pockets that communicate with nasal cavity
Lighten weight of skull bones.
Serve as resonators for sound production.
Provide mucus, which drains into nasal cavity.
What happens if paranasal sinuses are blocked?
sinusitis
Which two pairs of sinuses can be examined
frontal and maxillary
Frontal paranasal sinus
above and medial to orbits
Maxillary sinuses
In maxilla along side walls of nasal cavity
Mouth
first segment of digestive system; an airway for the respiratory system
Oral cavity
bordered by lips, palate, cheeks, tongue; contains teeth, gums, tongue salivary glands.
Hard palate composition
bone
soft palate composition
muscle
Frenulum
midline fold of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth
Tongue
mass of striated muscle arranged in crosswise pattern so it can change shape & position
Tongue enhances functions in mastication, swallowing, teeth cleansing, speech formation
Microscopic taste buds
papillae of tongue—at back and long sides and on soft palate
Mouth contains 3 pairs of salivary glands
parotid
sublingual
submandibular
Parotid gland
largest
from within checks in front of ear
duct opens on buccal mucosa opposite 2nd molar
Submandibular gland
beneath mandible at angle of jaw
duct opens on either side of frenulum
sublingual gland
lies w/n the floor of the mouth, under tounge
Salivary glands secretion and function
saliva, which lubricates food bolus; starts digestion cleans and protects the mucosa.
How many teeth do adults have
32 teeth each has crown, neck, and root
Oropharynx
separated from mouth by fold of tissue on each side—anterior tonsillar pillar
Tonsillar tissue enlarges during
childhood until puberty, then involutes
Nasopharynx location
continuous with oropharynx behind nasal cavity
Nasopharynx contains
pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) and eustachian tube openings
DC: infants and children: teeth
20 deciduous (temporary) teeth—all should develop by age 2 ½.
DC: adolescent: nose
Nose develops during adolescence.
DC: Pregnant women
Increased vascularity—upper respiratory tract
Nasal stuffiness; epistaxis; may have bleeding gums
DC: Aging adult
Nasal hairs—coarser, stiffer; may not filter as well.
After 60—may have decreased olfactory nerve fibers, leading to decreased sense of smell.
Oral cavity—soft tissue atrophy; epithelial thins in cheeks and tongue. Loss of taste buds with 80% reduction in taste functioning
Decreased salivary secretion may also impact taste.
Above changes may increase risk for infections, neoplasms.
DC: Aging adult: dental changes
tooth loss, difficulty in mastication.
Result—increase in soft foods, decrease in meat and vegetables—risk for nutritional deficits
SD: Nose
Ask about history of nosebleeds (epistaxis), allergies.
SD: Mouth & throat
Asks about toothaches, bleeding gums, hoarseness, dysphagia, smoking, alcohol use.
SD: infants & children
Check for history of frequent sore throat or tonsillitis. Bottle use
thumb sucking
grinding teeth
SD: Aging adult
Ask about mouth dryness.
Are there foods the client can’t eat anymore?
Can the client care for her/his own teeth or dentures?
Has the client had a change in sense of taste or smell?
OD: Nose
Note any discharge.
Assess ability to sniff.
Inspect for deviated septum.
Know where to palpate frontal and maxillary sinuses.
OD: Mouth: african americans
bluish lips and dark line on gingival margin
OD: Mouth: teeth things to note
diseased, absent, loose, or abnormally positioned
OD: Normal position of teeth
Count teeth; check bite for alignment.
Normal occlusion—in back—upper teeth resting on lower teeth
In front—upper incisors slightly overriding lower incisors
OD: Mouth: enlarged tongue is seen with?
mental retardation
hypothyroidism
acromegaly
OD: Mouth: small tongue causes
Malnutrition
Where to check for induration
U-shaped area under tongue behind teeth
What is induration?
1: an increase in the fibrous elements in tissue commonly associated with inflammation and marked by loss of elasticity and pliability : sclerosis.
2: a hardened mass or formation.
Induration may be
Mass
lypmadenopathy
OD: Buccal mucosa assessment
Assess when client says “ahhh” if soft palate and uvula rise in the midline –CN X (vagus).
Note: Candida infection usually rubs off buccal mucosa, leaving a clear or raw denuded surface.
OD: throat
Touch posterior wall with tongue blade—eliciting the gag reflex—CN IX (glossopharyngeal) and CN X (vagus).
Have client stick out their tongue, which should protrude in the midline (CN XII (hypoglossal).
OD: infants & children
Need to determine patency of nares in immediate period after birth, as newborns are obligate nose breathers.
Nasal flaring in the infant indicates respiratory distress.
OD: Aging adult: edentulous person
mouth and lips fold in “purse-string” appearance.
OD: Aging adult: tongue & buccal mucosa
tongue smoother, buccal mucosa shinier
OD: Aging adult: teeth yellowing cause
results from dentin visible through worn enamel.
OD: Aging adult: incisors
may have vertical cracks from exposure over lifetime to extreme temperatures.
OD: Aging adult: loose teeth cause
due to bone resorption.
