Head and Neck

Equipment Needed

• Penlight
• Gloves

What to Say to the Patient

• "I'll examine your head and neck, including your lymph nodes and thyroid."

Inspection Steps

• Head shape/symmetry
• Neck symmetry, masses, JVD
• Thyroid visible swelling

Palpation Steps

• Lymph nodes (cervical chains)
• Thyroid gland
• Trachea midline

Auscultation Steps

• Auscultate carotid arteries and thyroid for bruits

Normal Findings

• Symmetric, no masses
• No lymphadenopathy
• Thyroid non-tender, no nodules

Abnormal Findings

• Lymphadenopathy
• Thyromegaly or nodules
• Carotid bruit
• JVD

Common Mistakes

• Palpating too hard on carotids simultaneously
• Missing posterior cervical nodes

Documentation Example

Head normocephalic, atraumatic. No cervical lymphadenopathy. Thyroid non-tender, no nodules. No JVD or bruits.