The Head and Neck Flashcards
How many bones make up the skull?
22 bones
How many bones are in the face alone?
14 bones
What bones make up the facial skeleton?
Mandible, Maxilla, Nasal, Palatine, Lacrimal and Vomer bones
What are the main bones of the cranial skeleton?
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal
What bones form the forehead?
Frontal
What bones protect the anterolateral wall of the brain?
Temporal bones
What bones form the top and posterolateral portions of the skull?
Parietal bones
What nerve carries sensory fibers from the face, oral cavity and teeth and efferent motor fibers to the muscles for mastication?
The Trigeminal (V) Nerve
What are the three branches that make up the Trigeminal Nerve?
Ophthalmic
Maxillary
Mandibular
What is the largest endocrine gland in the body?
The thyroid gland
What is the function of the thyroid gland?
To produce thyroid hormone in accordance with the needs of the body
What is an expected finding as the provider inspects the thyroid gland?
It is barely visible
What nerve damage is expected if the patient is hoarse with phonation?
RLN
How should the normal thyroid gland feel?
The normal thyroid gland has consistency of muscle tissue
What is expected if unusual hardness is felt on palpation of the thyroid gland?
Hardness is associated with cancer or scarring
Why might the thyroid gland feel spongy or soft?
If a goiter is present
What is concluded if the patient reports tenderness on palpation of the thyroid gland?
Acute infections or hemorrhage into the gland
What finding would make the provider want to listen to the thyroid gland?
If the thyroid is enlarged
What does a bruit indicate if heard on auscultation of the thyroid gland?
Systolic bruit is highlt suggestive of a toxic goiter
How is Pemberton’s sign performed?
Ask the patient to raise both arms above the head until they touch the side of the head and assess for facial suffusion
What is can be a possible cause of a positive Pemberton’s sign?
Useful for detecting latent obstruction in the thoracic inlet
What is the most common type of hyperthyroidism?
Graves disease
Why is hypothyroidism so difficult to diagnose?
Often the only complaint is a tired or run down feeling
Why would the provider use the achilles tendon reflex to assess hypothyroidism treatment?
They are normally hypo reflexive, however this test has been known to cause false positives and negatives
