Deck 11: Head and Neck

Question 1

Which is the best way to position a patient's neck for palpation of the thyroid?

A) Flexed away from the side being examined
B) Flexed directly forward
C) Flexed toward the side being examined
D) Hyperextended directly backward

Answer 1

Flexed toward the side being examined

Question 2

Which cranial nerves innervate the face?

A) II and V
B) III and VI
C) V and VII
D) VIII and IX

Answer 2

V and VII

Question 3

Mr. Johnson presents with a freely movable cystic mass in the midline of the high neck region, at the base of the tongue. This is most likely a:

A) parotid gland tumor.
B) branchial cleft cyst.
C) Stensen duct stone.
D) thyroglossal duct cyst.

Answer 3

thyroglossal duct cyst.

Question 4

Mr. Mathews is a 47-year-old patient who presents for a routine physical examination. On examination, you noted a bruit heard over the thyroid. This is suggestive of:

A) hypothyroidism.
B) hyperthyroidism.
C) thyroid cancer.
D) thyroid cyst.

Question 5

Which of the following is an expected change in the assessment of the thyroid during pregnancy?

A) Palpation of the gland becomes difficult.
B) A bruit is auscultated.
C) Inspection reveals a goiter.
D) The gland is tender on palpation.

Question 6

Observation during history taking is the best way to examine for:

A) head position.
B) scalp lice.
C) thyroid size.
D) tracheal alignment.

Question 7

Which of the following is true regarding a cephalohematoma?

A) It is bound by suture lines.
B) The affected part feels soft.
C) It is obvious at birth.
D) The margins are poorly defined.

Question 8

You are palpating a patient's thyroid and find that its broadest dimension measures 4 cm. The right lobe is 25% larger than the left. These data would indicate:

A) a congenital anomaly.
B) a multinodular goiter.
C) a normal thyroid gland.
D) thyroiditis.

Question 9

During a physical examination of a 30-year-old Chinese man, you notice a slight asymmetry of his face. The cranial nerve examination is normal. Your best action is to:

A) ask the patient if this characteristic runs in his family.
B) perform monofilament testing on the face.
C) consult with the clinician regarding the laboratory tests needed.
D) record the finding in the patient's chart.

Question 10

Which type of headache usually occurs at night, is precipitated by alcohol consumption, and occurs more often in men than in women?

A) Classic migraine
B) Temporal arteritis
C) Cluster
D) Hypertensive

Question 11

Mr. Donaldson is a 64-year-old patient with complaints of headaches. As the examiner, you are palpating his head during your physical examination. Which of the following would be your first step?

A) Palpate the patient's hair, noting texture, color, and distribution.
B) Palpate the temporomandibular joint.
C) Palpate the skull from front to back.
D) Palpate the temporal artery.

Question 12

Mrs. Britton brings her 16-year-old son in with a complaint that he is not developing correctly into adolescence. Which structures disproportionately enlarge in the male during adolescence?

A) Coronal sutures
B) Hyoid and cricoid cartilages
C) Mandible and maxilla bones
D) Nose and thyroid cartilages

Question 13

Ms. Galvan is a 22-year-old secretary who comes to the clinic with headaches of 6 weeks' duration. She tells the office assistant about her heavy schedule, including part-time work and evening classes. Her vital signs are normal. Which information is most appropriate to Ms. Galvan's history?

A) Current medications
B) Elimination patterns
C) Immunization status
D) Previous pregnancies

Question 14

When noting a bulging fontanel with marked pulsations in a 6-month-old, you suspect:

A) normal development.
B) congenital anomaly.
C) increased intracranial pressure.
D) fever response to a viral infection.

Question 15

The thyroid gland should:

A) be slightly left of midline.
B) have a clear vascular sound.
C) move when the patient swallows.
D) tug with each heartbeat.

Question 16

The correct way to transilluminate an infant's skull is to:

A) hold the light 18 inches from the skull.
B) move the light toward and then away from the head.
C) place the light firmly against the skull.
D) shine the light inside the infant's mouth.

Question 17

During a head and neck assessment of a neonate, it is important to screen for:

A) the presence of torticollis.
B) signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy.
C) uneven movement of the eyes.
D) unilateral movement of the tongue.

Question 18

Nuchal rigidity is most commonly associated with:

A) thyroiditis.
B) meningeal irritation.
C) Down syndrome.
D) cranial nerve V damage.

Question 19

The premature union of cranial sutures that involves the shape of the head without mental retardation is:

A) craniosynostosis.
B) encephalocele.
C) microcephaly.
D) myxedema.