Nose, Mouth, Throat Flashcards
What are olfactory receptors
Hair cells inside the nose give us the sense of smell, which can enhance our pleasure, especially in eating
What is the purpose of the three bony turbinates projected from the lateral walls?
These increase the surface area for blood vessels and mucous membranes which helps warm, humidify, and filter air as it is inhaled
How to assess the frontal sinuses
Press firmly upwards just under the eyebrows for tenderness. For the maxillary sinuses, press up and in below the cheekbones. Tenderness in these areas can indicate inflammation and possibly infection
How do you inspect the tonsils?
Tonsils are inspected for size
1+
2+ about half way
3+ touching the uvula
4+ touches the midline of the uvula
Common problems of the nose mouth and throat for older adults
Older adults often have decreased saliva production, plus a decreased sense of taste and smell
Dental changes may lead to loss of teeth and malalignment
Gums may recede and both gums and mucous membranes are more sensitive
These changes may lead to malnutrition and increased risk for oral infections and lesions
What is rhinitis
Nasal mucosa is swollen and bright red. Discharge is common with rhinitis and sinusitis.
With chronic allergy mucosa looks swollen, boggy, pale, and grey
What is epistaxis
The most common side of a nosebleed is kiesselbach plexus in the anterior septum. Causes are trauma, intranasal drugs, inflammation, infection, hypertension.
How to tell if patient has a perforated septum
Perforation is seen as a spot of light from a penlight shining in the other nostril, and occurs with cocaine use
What are the cranial nerves affecting the mouth?
CN V Trigeminal
Translates sensory information in the upper and middle face and controls motion in the jaw and ear
CN VII Facial
Controls cranial nerves in the face that govern facial expression and taste
CN IX Glossopharyngeal
Controls sensory information in the back of the tongue and muscle movement in the back of the throat
CN XII Hypoglossal
Controls nerves in the mouth, particularly concerning tongue movement
Abnormal findings of nose, mouth, and throat
Nose asymmetric, not WNL, lesions, inflammation, blocked nares
Absence of sniff indicates obstruction (e.g. common cold, nasal polyps, rhinitis)
Nasal cavity grey or light pink indicating no blood flow or circulation
Any swelling, discharge, bleeding, or foreign body trauma?
Septum deviated (hump or shelf)→ causes obstruction or perforation (cocaine use)
Turbinates pale/light pink, swelling.
Exudates/polyps present
Epistaxis comes from Kiesselbach plexus in anterior septum (from trauma, vigorous nose blowing/picking, foreign body)
What do you expect to observe when inspecting the external portions of the nose
Symmetric, in the midline, and in proportion to other facial features.
Patient teaching for common conditions of nose, mouth, and throat
deviated nasal septum looks like hump or shelf in one nasal cavity
-perforated septum: a hole in the septum, usually in the cartilaginous part
cause: snorting cocaine, methamphetamines, chronic infections, trauma, continual picking crust, or nasal surgery
-candidiasis: monilial infection, white, cheesy, curdle patch on the buccal mucosa and tongue, scrapes off leaving a raw, red surface that bleeds easily. It is an opportunistic infection that occurs after the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressed people, HIV infections, leukemia, and malnutrition
-leukoplakia: chalky, white, thick, raised patch with well-defined borders. lesion is firm and does not scrape off and is due to chronic irritation of tobacco/alc use.. lesions are precancerous
