WEEK 5 BRAINSTORMING AND KNOWLEDGE CHECK - PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE #13
Recall the order of assessment. - correct answer 1. Inspect
2. Auscultate
3. Palpate
4. Percuss
Inspect - correct answer *Assessing the Head and Face:*
- Inspect head for size, shape, symmetry, and position
- Compare side to side throughout exam
- Inspect the face for expression and symmetry
*Assessing the Eyes:*
- Inspect external eye structures
*Assessing the Ears and Hearing:*
- Inspect the external ear for placement, size, shape, symmetry, and the condition of the
skin
- Inspect the tympanic membrane and bony landmarks
*Assessing the Nose and Sinuses:*
- Inspect the external and internal structures of the nose
*Assessing the Mouth and Oropharynx:*
- Inspect the lips, oral mucosa, gums, teeth, and bite
- Inspect the tongue and frenulum; inspect under the tongue
- Inspect the hard/soft palate, tonsils, and uvula
*Assessing the Neck:*
- Inspect the neck (Note: symmetry, ROM, and the skin condition
Auscultate - correct answer When assessing the neck (specifically palpating the thyroid)
and there is a mass or it is enlarge, you will need to auscultate
Palpate - correct answer *Assessing the Head and Face:*
- Palpate the head for masses, tenderness, and scalp mobility
- Palpate the face for symmetry, tenderness, muscle tone, and temporomandibular joint
(TMJ) function
*Assessing the Eyes:*
- Palpate the external eye structures
*Assessing the Ears and Hearing:*
- Palpate the external structures of the ear for skin conditions and tenderness
, *Assessing the Nose and Sinuses:*
- Palpate the external structures of the nose
*Assessing the Mouth and Oropharynx:*
- Palpate the lips and tongue for tenderness and muscle tone
*Assessing the Neck:*
- Palpate the cervical lymph nodes (Note: size, shape, symmetry, consistency, mobility,
tenderness, and temperature of any palpable nodes)
- Palpate the thyroid. If it is enlarge or if there is a mass, auscultate
Percuss - correct answer tapping
What is the function of the thyroid? - correct answer highly vascular gland that
synthesizes and secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones that
stimulate the rate of cellular metabolism
How do you assess the thyroid? - correct answer 1. To palpate, move behind the
person
2. Ask the person to sit up very straight and then to bend the head slightly foward and to
the right
3. Use the fingers of your left hand to push the trachea slightly to the right
4. Curve your right fingers between the trachea and the sternomastoid muscle,
retracting it slightly, and ask the person to take a sip of water
5. The thyroid moves up under your palpating fingers with the trachea and larynx as the
person swallows
6. Reverse the procedure for the left side
What are normal findings when assessing the thyroid? - correct answer - smooth
- firm
- nontender
- nonpalpable
What are abnormal findings when assessing the thyroid? - correct answer - enlarged
thyroid (associated with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism)
What are some physical cues that can be seen in someone with hearing loss? - correct
answer - client staring at your mouth
- not answering unless looking at you
- speaking in an unusually loud voice
- frequently requesting that you repeat the question
What are the different types of hearing assessments? - correct answer 1. Weber test
2. Rinne test
3. Whisper test
ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE #13
Recall the order of assessment. - correct answer 1. Inspect
2. Auscultate
3. Palpate
4. Percuss
Inspect - correct answer *Assessing the Head and Face:*
- Inspect head for size, shape, symmetry, and position
- Compare side to side throughout exam
- Inspect the face for expression and symmetry
*Assessing the Eyes:*
- Inspect external eye structures
*Assessing the Ears and Hearing:*
- Inspect the external ear for placement, size, shape, symmetry, and the condition of the
skin
- Inspect the tympanic membrane and bony landmarks
*Assessing the Nose and Sinuses:*
- Inspect the external and internal structures of the nose
*Assessing the Mouth and Oropharynx:*
- Inspect the lips, oral mucosa, gums, teeth, and bite
- Inspect the tongue and frenulum; inspect under the tongue
- Inspect the hard/soft palate, tonsils, and uvula
*Assessing the Neck:*
- Inspect the neck (Note: symmetry, ROM, and the skin condition
Auscultate - correct answer When assessing the neck (specifically palpating the thyroid)
and there is a mass or it is enlarge, you will need to auscultate
Palpate - correct answer *Assessing the Head and Face:*
- Palpate the head for masses, tenderness, and scalp mobility
- Palpate the face for symmetry, tenderness, muscle tone, and temporomandibular joint
(TMJ) function
*Assessing the Eyes:*
- Palpate the external eye structures
*Assessing the Ears and Hearing:*
- Palpate the external structures of the ear for skin conditions and tenderness
, *Assessing the Nose and Sinuses:*
- Palpate the external structures of the nose
*Assessing the Mouth and Oropharynx:*
- Palpate the lips and tongue for tenderness and muscle tone
*Assessing the Neck:*
- Palpate the cervical lymph nodes (Note: size, shape, symmetry, consistency, mobility,
tenderness, and temperature of any palpable nodes)
- Palpate the thyroid. If it is enlarge or if there is a mass, auscultate
Percuss - correct answer tapping
What is the function of the thyroid? - correct answer highly vascular gland that
synthesizes and secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones that
stimulate the rate of cellular metabolism
How do you assess the thyroid? - correct answer 1. To palpate, move behind the
person
2. Ask the person to sit up very straight and then to bend the head slightly foward and to
the right
3. Use the fingers of your left hand to push the trachea slightly to the right
4. Curve your right fingers between the trachea and the sternomastoid muscle,
retracting it slightly, and ask the person to take a sip of water
5. The thyroid moves up under your palpating fingers with the trachea and larynx as the
person swallows
6. Reverse the procedure for the left side
What are normal findings when assessing the thyroid? - correct answer - smooth
- firm
- nontender
- nonpalpable
What are abnormal findings when assessing the thyroid? - correct answer - enlarged
thyroid (associated with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism)
What are some physical cues that can be seen in someone with hearing loss? - correct
answer - client staring at your mouth
- not answering unless looking at you
- speaking in an unusually loud voice
- frequently requesting that you repeat the question
What are the different types of hearing assessments? - correct answer 1. Weber test
2. Rinne test
3. Whisper test
