Head and neck examination

Question 1

What do you need to comment on when inspecting the head and neck?

Answer 1

• size and shape of the head
• symmetry of bony structures (nose, ears, jaw line, facial features)
• symmetry of muscle structure (eyelids, muscles of the face and cheek
• skin colour (is there flushing?)
• general appearance and facial expressions
• presence or absence of any swellings or deformities

Question 2

When doing palpation of the head and neck, where should you palpate?

Answer 2

the scalp and TMJ (temporomandibular joint)

Question 3

What are you assessing for in palpation of the head and neck

Answer 3

• pain
• tenderness
• lumps
• bumps
• rigidity of facial muscles

Question 4

what are the names of the 3 paranasal sinuses?

Answer 4

• Frontal
• maxillary
• ethmoid

Question 5

What is the location of the frontal paranasal sinus?

Answer 5

in the frontal bone, above and medial to the orbits

Question 6

What is the location of the maxillary paranasal sinus?

Answer 6

in the maxilla along the side walls of nasal cavity

Question 7

What is the location of the ethmoid paranasal sinus?

Answer 7

between the orbits

Question 8

where is the temporal pulse?

Answer 8

above the zygomatic (cheek) bone, between the eye and top of the ear

Question 9

where is the carotid pulse?

Answer 9

medial to the sternomastoid muscle in the neck

Question 10

What are you commenting on when doing an inspection of the external ears?

Answer 10

• size
• symmetry
• swelling
• piercings
• lesions
• colour changes
• discharges

Question 11

What are you commenting on when palpating the external ear?

Answer 11

• temperature
• pain
• tenderness
• lumps or bumps

Question 12

What should you comment on during an otoscope examination?

Answer 12

• tympanic membrane: should be pearly grey with no signs of exudate
• umbo: located at 12 o’clock in both ears
• cone of light: right ear = 5 o’clock
  left ear = 7 o’clock

Question 13

Where should you inspect during a mouth and throat observation?

Answer 13

• lips
• teeth
• gums
• buccal mucosa
• tongue
• oropharynx
• tonsils

Question 14

What are the 10 groups of lymph nodes in the head and neck?

Answer 14

• pre-auricular
• posterior auricular
• occipital
• jugulodigastric
• submandibular
• submental
• superficial cervical
• deep cervical
• posterior cervical
• supraclavicular

Question 15

What features do you need to comment on when assessing the lymph nodes?

Answer 15

• temperature
• mobility
• size
• shape
• tenderness
• consistency of each group

Question 16

What features of the external eye need to be examined?

Answer 16

• eyebrows
• eyelashes
• eyelids
• cornea

Question 17

What are the things we need to comment on when doing an inspection of the eyes?

Answer 17

• symmetry of external features
• inflammation, cysts, or swelling
• excess watery discharge
• any discharge or deposits around the eye
• visible blood vessels or signs of bleeding or injury to the eye
• facial features and drooping of eyelids if any

Question 18

What do you need to comment on when inspecting the conjunctiva of the lower eyelid?

Answer 18

• colour: redness, pallor, any other discolouration
• signs of inflammation
• visible pustules, exudates or foreign matter