Normal and abnormal findings head and neck

Question 1

What are normal findings for the skull?

Answer 1

A: Normocephalic, smooth, symmetrical, no tenderness.

Question 2

What are abnormal findings for the skull?

Answer 2

A: Microcephaly, macrocephaly, lumps, deformities.

Question 3

Q: What are normal findings for the temporal artery?

Answer 3

A: Smooth, no tenderness.

Question 4

Q: What are abnormal findings for the temporal artery?

Answer 4

A: Temporal arteritis: Hardened, tender, tortuous artery.

Question 5

Q: What are normal findings for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)?

Answer 5

A: Smooth movement, no crepitation or tenderness

Question 6

Q: What are abnormal findings for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)?

Answer 6

A: Crepitation, limited ROM, tenderness.

Question 7

Q: What are normal findings for the face?

Answer 7

A: Symmetrical features, appropriate expression, no swelling or involuntary movements.

Question 8

Q: What are abnormal findings for the face?

Answer 8

A: Asymmetry (e.g., Bell’s Palsy, stroke), edema, tics, coarse features, exophthalmos, facial pallor, or erythema.

Question 9

Q: What are normal findings for neck symmetry?

Answer 9

A: Symmetry of neck structures

Question 10

Q: What are abnormal findings for neck symmetry?

Answer 10

A: Head tilt, muscle spasm, masses, or goiter.

Question 11

Q: What are normal findings for neck ROM?

Answer 11

A: Smooth, controlled ROM.

Question 12

Q: What are abnormal findings for neck ROM?

Answer 12

A: Pain, limited ROM, or rigidity (e.g., arthritis, torticollis).

Question 13

Q: What are normal findings for lymph nodes?

Answer 13

A: Not palpable or soft, movable, nontender, and discrete if palpable.

Question 14

Q: What are abnormal findings for lymph nodes?

Answer 14

A: Lymphadenopathy (>1 cm): Tender, hard, fixed, or clumped node

Question 15

Q: What are normal findings for the thyroid gland?

Answer 15

A: Not visible or palpable; moves symmetrically with swallowing.

Question 16

Q: What are abnormal findings for the thyroid gland?

Answer 16

A: Goiter, nodules, bruit, or asymmetrical enlargement.

Question 17

Q: What are normal findings for the trachea?

Answer 17

A: Midline position.

Question 18

Q: What are abnormal findings for the trachea?

Answer 18

A: Tracheal shift: Pushed to unaffected side (e.g., pneumothorax) or pulled to affected side (e.g., fibrosis).

Question 19

Q: What are common abnormal findings for primary headaches?

Answer 19

Tension: Band-like tightness, mild to moderate pain.
Migraine: Throbbing, unilateral, photophobia, nausea.
Cluster: Severe, stabbing, unilateral pain with nasal congestion or watery eyes.

Question 20

Q: What are facial abnormalities associated with Parkinson’s syndrome?

Answer 20

A: Mask-like face, staring gaze.

Question 21

Q: What are facial abnormalities associated with Cushing’s syndrome?

Answer 21

A: Rounded face, red cheeks, hirsutism.

Question 22

Q: What are facial abnormalities associated with Bell’s Palsy?

Answer 22

A: Complete unilateral facial paralysis.

Question 23

Q: What are facial abnormalities associated with a stroke?

Answer 23

A: Lower facial paralysis, upper half unaffected.

Question 24

Q: What are signs of hyperthyroidism?

Answer 24

A: Goiter, exophthalmos, tachycardia, weight loss.

Question 25

Q: What are signs of hypothyroidism?

Answer 25

A: Puffy face, coarse hair, periorbital edema.

Question 26

Q: What are common types of abnormal dizziness?

Answer 26

Presyncope: Feeling faint. Vertigo: Spinning sensation. Disequilibrium: Instability.

Question 27

Q: What are abnormal findings for neck pain?

Answer 27

A: Acute stiffness with fever (e.g., meningitis), radiating pain (e.g., nerve compression), or stress-related tension.

Question 28

Q: What are abnormal findings related to trauma history?

Answer 28

A: Persistent headache, vomiting, or changes in consciousness (e.g., concussion).