Health assessment

• Mouth


  The oral cavity formed by the lips, cheeks, hard and soft palates, uvula, and the tongue and its muscles

  
• Mouth


  • Beginning of the digestive tract
  • Serves as an airway for the respiratory tract
• Lips


  The upper and lower lips form the entrance to the mouth, serving as a protective gateway to the digestive and respiratory tracts

  
• Palate


  The roof of the oral cavity is formed by the anterior hard palate and the posterior soft palate
• Uvula


  An extension of the soft palate that hangs in the posterior midline of the oropharynx
• Cheeks


  Form the lateral walls of the mouth
• Tongue


  A mass of muscle, attached to the hyoid bone and styloid process of the temporal bone, that assists with moving food, swallowing, and speaking
• Gums (gingiva)


  Covered by mucous membrane and normally hold 32 permanent teeth in the adult
• Teeth


  The top, visible, white enameled part is the crown, the portion embedded in the gums is the root, and the crown and root are connected by the neck
• Papillae


  Small bumps that cover the dorsal surface of the tongue
• Taste buds


  Scattered over the tongue's surface, carry sensory impulses to the brain
• Salivary glands


  Three pairs (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) that secrete saliva into the mouth to help break down and lubricate food
• Throat (pharynx)


  A muscular passage located behind the mouth and nose that serves for food and air

  
• Nasopharynx


  The upper part of the throat

  
• Oropharynx


  The middle part of the throat, below the nasopharynx

  
• Laryngopharynx


  The lower part of the throat, below the oropharynx

  
• Palatine tonsils


  Masses of lymphoid tissue located on both sides of the oropharynx at the end of the soft palate between the anterior and posterior pillars
• Lingual tonsils


  Masses of lymphoid tissue located at the base of the tongue

  
• Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)


  Masses of lymphoid tissue found high in the nasopharynx
• Nose


  Consists of an external portion covered with skin and an internal nasal cavity, composed of bone and cartilage and lined with mucous membrane
• External nose


  Consists of a bridge (upper portion), tip, and two oval openings called nares
• Nasal cavity


  Located between the roof of the mouth and the cranium, extending from the anterior nares (nostrils) to the posterior nares which open into the nasopharynx

  
• Nasal septum


  Separates the nasal cavity into two halves
• Turbinates


  Superior, middle, and inferior bony lobes that project from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity to increase the surface area exposed to incoming air
• Nasal hairs (vibrissae)


  Filter large particles from the inspired air
• Ciliated mucosal cells


  Capture and propel debris toward the throat, where it is swallowed

  
• Olfactory receptors


  Located in the upper part of the nasal cavity and septum, related to the sense of smell
• Paranasal sinuses


  Four pairs (frontal, maxillary, ethmoidal, and sphenoidal) of air-filled cavities in the skull that decrease the weight of the skull and act as resonance chambers during speech
• Frontal and maxillary sinuses

  Accessible to examination by the nurse, the ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses are smaller and located deeper in the skull
• Tonsils are masses of lymphoid tissue that help protect against infection
• The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR, 2013) advises that oral cancer screening is important because oral cancer spreads easily and needs to be diagnosed and treated early
• The Oral Cancer Foundation (2009) noted that survival does correlate with early diagnosis
• Although dentists are often the first line of assessment, many people do not see dentists; thus nurses can provide this assessment
• Risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer

  • Using tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless and chewing tobacco)
  • Heavy alcohol use
  • Chewing betel nuts
  • Being infected with a certain type of human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Being exposed to sunlight (lip cancer only)
  • Being male
  • Fair skin
  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Poor diet/nutrition: low in fruits and vegetables, vitamin A deficiency, and chewing betel nuts
  • Weakened immune system
• Avoid smoking cigarettes or using oral tobacco


  Get assistance to stop if smoking or chewing currently
• Avoid infection with HPV


  Can be transmitted through oral sex or contact with others who are infected, or seek medical assistance if infection suspected
• Avoid excessive sun exposure (or tanning booth exposure) to lips


  Use adequate sunscreen if unable to avoid sun
• Practice regular oral hygiene

  Using a soft tooth brush, dental floss at least two times per day, and have routine dental care
• If you have a weakened immune system

  Take extra precautions to avoid risks for oral cancer
• Tongue or mouth sores or lesions


  Explore the symptoms using COLDSPA