NRS 4621 Head and Neck Assessment: Cranium, Facial Structures, Sensory Organs, Neck Anatomy, Thyroid Gland, Lymph Nodes, Traumatic Brain Injury, OLD CART Evaluation, Anterior and Posterior Cervical Triangles, Sternocleidomastoid Landmarks, Carotid Arterie

NRS 4621 Head and Neck Assessment: Cranium, Facial Structures, Sensory Organs, Neck Anatomy, Thyroid Gland, Lymph Nodes, Traumatic Brain Injury, OLD CART Evaluation, Anterior and Posterior Cervical Triangles, Sternocleidomastoid Landmarks, Carotid Arteries, Jugular Veins, Midline Neck Structures, Thyroid Isthmus, Lateral Thyroid Lobes, Submental, Submandibular, Preauricular, Postauricular, Tonsillar, Occipital, Superficial and Deep Cervical Chains, Supraclavicular Nodes, Goiter, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Myxedema, Cushing Syndrome, Nephrotic Syndrome, Acromegaly, Parkinsonian Facies, Tracheal Examination, Thyroid Palpation, Diffuse Enlargement, Nodular Goiter, Multinodular Goiter, Thyroid Bruit, Diagnostic Tests, TSH, T3, T4, Thyroid Ultrasound Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026 Head and neck contains the following structures Cranium Face Sensory organs Neck Thyroid gland Lymph nodes The health history The head - any lesions, or nodules TBI Traumatic brain injury Blow to the head or piercing head injury that interferes with brain function Not all injuries to head result in brain injury May be mild to severe May be time lapse between injury and manifestation of symptoms TBI OLD CART questions Onset - when did this occur? do you remember how you hurt your head Location - can you show me were it hurts? Duration - for how long? Characteristic symptoms - did you experience symptoms prior to the head injury? Associated manifestations - did you lose consciousness? do you experience vision changes, nausea or vomiting, attention span deficits, dizziness, confusion, drainage from the ears, nose, eyes, mouth; tremors, seizures, gait changes? Neck anatomy and physiology The neck is divided into two triangles divided by the sternocleidomastoid muscle, anterior cervical and posterior cervical triangles these are the regions you can find your anterior and posterior cervical lymph node chains Deep under the sternocleidomastoid muscles lies the great vessels of the neck the carotid artery and the internal and external jugular vein The external jugular vein is useful to use when determining JVP Midline structures of the neck and thyroid gland So basically when we are trying to locate the thyroid gland, it is located above the suprasternal notch. The thyroid isthmus spans the second third and fourth tracheal just below the cricoid cartilage. The lateral lobes of the thyroid curve posteriorly around the sides of the trachea and esophagus it measures about 4 to 5 cm in length . Under the mandible you have the submental and submandibular lymphnodes Pre and post auricular Tonsillar is found at the angle of the mandible Occipital at the base of the skull Anterior superficial chain and Posterior cervical chain Deep cervical chain, which you usually can't palpate. Supraclavicular . Just above the clavicle Upon palpation, lymph nodes should be round or oval and smooth If a node is tender it could indicate inflammation or infection. Common or concerning symptoms Swollen lymph nodes or neck lumps Enlarged thyroid gland Hoarseness Enlarged lymph nodes