Physical Exam - Neck Flashcards
Inspect for what in the neck?
Lumps and bumps, pulsation
Palpate for what in the neck?
Lymph nodes, trachea, carotids, CN XI, thyroid gland
What should you be cautious of while palpating the neck?
Carotid
What is the space between the clavicles?
Manubrium
The manubrium is part of what?
Sternum
What is the muscle that joins the side of the head to the sternum/clavicle?
Sternocleidomastoid muscle
The angle between the jaw/chin and sternocleidomastoid muscle
Anterior triangle
Area above clavicle, between trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscle
Posterior triangle
Parotitis
Inflammation of parotid salivary glands
Cause of parotitis
S. Aureus, or virus from mumps (strep or staph)
How to avoid parotitis
Vaccination - 3 shot series MMR
Assessing the carotid artery - palpation
One side at a time, only enough pressure to feel pulse, should feel equal bilaterally
Assessing carotid artery - auscultation
Use bell of stethoscope, check for bruit
Assessing the thyroid - inspection
Tip patients head back, inspect region below cricoid cartilage, observe pt swallow - thyroid gland moves upward. Note symmetry and contour
Movement of thyroid
Cricoid, thyroid cartilage, and thyroid rise with swallowing then fall into resting place
Etiology of hyperthyroidism
Graves’ disease, toxic multi-nodular goiter, toxic adenoma, exogenous thyroid hormone ingestion
Hypothyroidism etiology
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, sub-acute thyroiditis, iodine deficiency, thyroid surgery, severe illness, drug induced
What is subjective information?
Anything the patient reports, not backed up by physical assessment
What is objective information?
Anything YOU find on physical exam
Example documentation
Neck: soft supple, trachea midline, thyroid diffusely enlarged soft without nodules, non-tender to touch, no lymphadenopathy
Abnormal
example documentation: Head; bossing (bulging) forehead, prolonged chin, no lesions, lumps, or infestations, normal hair distribution
Abnormal
