45 Questions
When a physician mentions a patient's vertebra prominens, which area of the body should the nurse assess?
At the level of the C7 vertebra
A mother brings her 2-month-old daughter in for an examination and mentions a soft spot on the top of her head. What is the nurse's best response?
That soft spot is normal, and actually allows for growth of the brain during the first year of your baby's life
What may asymmetric palpebral fissures indicate?
Damage to cranial nerve VII (CN VII)
What might inability to differentiate between sharp and dull stimulation on the face suggest?
Damage to the trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Which glands are accessible for examination on the face?
Parotid and submandibular glands
What may neck and shoulder pain with inability to turn the head indicate?
Damage to cranial nerve XI (CN XI)
What would elevated thyroxine (T4) levels prompt an examination of?
The thyroid gland
What might a lump in the neck that is mobile and not hard not be?
A cancerous thyroid nodule
What would enlarged submental lymph nodes prompt assessment of?
The area proximal to the enlarged node
Where are lymph nodes accessible for examination?
Head and neck, arms, inguinal area, and axillae
At what stage should the head circumference be greater than the chest circumference?
At birth
When does head growth predominate?
During the fetal period
What is the impact of the anterior fontanel closing at 2 months?
Does not significantly impact the relative proportion of the head to the body
Which type of headache is characterized by excruciating pain around the eye, temple, forehead, and cheek, lasting up to 2 hours, occurring once or twice per day?
Cluster headache
What is a characteristic symptom of meningeal inflammation?
Photophobia
Which physical feature is characteristic of hydrocephalus?
Enlarged head and small face
Where is the temporomandibular joint located?
Just below the temporal artery and anterior to the tragus
What could swelling below the angle of the jaw indicate?
Inflammation of the parotid gland
Why is parotid gland examination crucial for a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) suspecting mumps?
Potential complications due to mumps infection
What should be examined for lesions in a patient suspecting mumps?
Thyroid gland, cervical lymph nodes, mouth, and skin
Why should the nurse palpate the temporomandibular joint for crepitation?
To assess for joint inflammation
What is a characteristic feature of cluster headaches?
Unilateral and always on the same side of the head
What is a common association with migraines?
Family history of migraine headaches
What is a characteristic location for migraine headaches?
Supraorbital, retroorbital, or frontotemporal
What is a contributing factor to the increased noticeability of facial bones with age?
Decreased elasticity, subcutaneous fat, and moisture in the skin
What would the nurse most likely find on examination of a patient with elevated T4 and T3 hormone levels due to hyperthyroidism?
Tachycardia
How should the nurse examine the thyroid gland of a non-English speaking patient who seems apprehensive?
The front with the nurses thumbs placed on either side of his trachea and his head tilted forward
How should the nurse auscultate an enlarged thyroid gland for the presence of a bruit?
Soft, whooshing, pulsatile; bell
What is the likely explanation for a soft, fluctuant, and well-defined lump appearing several hours after birth and gradually increasing in size?
Cephalhematoma
What is the reflex observed in an infant when the head is turned to one side, resulting in extension of the same arm and leg, and flexion of the opposite arm and leg?
Normal and is called the tonic neck reflex, which should disappear between 3 and 4 months of age
What is the likely cause of a soft, fluctuant, and well-defined lump appearing several hours after birth and gradually increasing in size in an infant?
Cephalhematoma
What is the expected outcome of the tonic neck reflex in an infant?
It is normal and is called the tonic neck reflex, which should disappear between 3 and 4 months of age
What is the characteristic sound of a bruit heard in an enlarged thyroid gland?
Soft, whooshing, pulsatile; bell
What is the likely cause of a large, soft lump on the side of an infant's head, appearing approximately 8 hours after birth and gradually increasing in size?
Cephalhematoma
What would be the nurse's likely finding on examination of a patient with hyperthyroidism and elevated T4 and T3 hormone levels?
Tachycardia
In hyperthyroidism, elevated T4 and T3 hormone levels would most likely result in:
Tachycardia
When examining a patient's thyroid gland, the nurse should place the thumbs on either side of the trachea and tilt the patient's head:
Forward
When auscultating an enlarged thyroid gland for the presence of a bruit, the nurse should use the:
Soft, whooshing, pulsatile; bell
A soft, fluctuant, and well-defined lump appearing several hours after birth and gradually increasing in size is most likely a result of:
Cephalhematoma
The reflex where an infant straightens out the arm and leg on the same side and flexes the opposite arm and leg when the head is turned to one side is known as:
Normal and is called the tonic neck reflex, which should disappear between 3 and 4 months of age
An infant showing the tonic neck reflex when supine and the head is turned to one side exhibits:
Flexion of same arm and leg, extension of opposite arm and leg
A soft, pulsatile, whooshing, blowing sound heard best with the bell of the stethoscope is indicative of:
Thyroid bruit
A subperiosteal hemorrhage that appears several hours after birth and gradually increases in size is most likely:
Cephalhematoma
When a newborn's head is turned to the right side, straightening out the arm and leg on the same side and flexing the opposite arm and leg is known as the:
Tonic neck reflex, which should disappear between 3 and 4 months of age
When the head is turned to one side, the infant straightening out the arm and leg on the same side and flexing the opposite arm and leg is known as:
Tonic neck reflex, which should disappear between 3 and 4 months of age
Study Notes
Facial bones become more noticeable with age due to decreased elasticity, subcutaneous fat, and moisture in the skin Cluster headaches produce excruciating pain around the eye, temple, forehead, and cheek, lasting up to 2 hours, occurring once or twice per day Migraine headaches tend to be supraorbital, retroorbital, or frontotemporal with a throbbing quality, and are relieved by lying down Meningeal inflammation is suspected with acute onset of neck stiffness, headache, and fever Hydrocephalus is characterized by an enlarged head, small face, dilated scalp veins, and setting sun eyes The temporomandibular joint is located just below the temporal artery and anterior to the tragus Swelling below the angle of the jaw could indicate inflammation of the parotid gland Parotid gland examination is crucial for a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) suspecting mumps Thyroid gland, cervical lymph nodes, mouth, and skin should be examined for lesions in a patient suspecting mumps The nurse should palpate the temporomandibular joint for crepitation Cluster headaches are unilateral and always on the same side of the head Migraines are associated with a family history of migraine headaches
Test your knowledge of head and neck assessment with this quiz covering topics such as facial bone changes with age, different types of headaches, signs of meningeal inflammation, characteristics of hydrocephalus, and examination techniques for the temporomandibular joint and parotid gland.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
