Mouth, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses

    Cards (222)

    • Mouth and throat
      • First part of the digestive system
      • Responsible for receiving food (ingestion), tasting, preparing food for digestion, and aiding in speech
    • Nose and paranasal sinuses
      • First part of the respiratory system
      • Responsible for receiving, filtering, warming and moistening air to be transported to the lungs
      • Receptors of cranial nerve I (olfactory) are located in the nose and related to the sense of smell
    • Mouth (oral cavity)

      • Formed by the lips, cheeks, hard and soft palates, uvula, and the tongue and its muscles
      • Beginning of the digestive tract
      • Serves as an airway for the respiratory tract
    • Lips
      Upper and lower lips form the entrance to the mouth, serving as a protective gateway to the digestive and respiratory tracts
    • Palate
      Roof of the oral cavity, formed by the anterior hard palate and the posterior soft palate
    • Uvula
      Extension of the soft palate, hanging in the posterior midline of the oropharynx
    • Cheeks
      Form the lateral walls of the mouth
    • Tongue and its muscles
      Form the floor of the mouth
    • Mandible (jaw bone)

      Provides the structural support for the floor of the mouth
    • Structures contained within the mouth
      • Tongue
      • Teeth
      • Gums
      • Openings of the salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual)
    • Structures of the mouth
      • Lips
      • Cheek
      • Tongue
      • Gums
      • Teeth
    • Tongue functions
      1. Moving food
      2. Swallowing
      3. Speaking
    • Gums
      Mucous membrane that normally holds 32 permanent teeth in the adult
    • Tooth

      • Visible, white enameled part
      • Portion embedded in the gums (root)
    • Taste buds
      Scattered over the tongue's surface, carry sensory impulses to the brain
    • Saliva
      • Watery, mucous fluid containing salts, mucus and salivary amylase
      • Helps break down food and lubricates it
      • Aids digestion of carbohydrates
    • Salivary glands
      • Parotid
      • Submandibular
      • Sublingual
    • Nose
      • Nasal cavity
      • Nasal septum
      • Turbinates
      • External nares
    • Throat (pharynx)

      • Muscular passage for food and air
      • Nasopharynx
      • Oropharynx
      • Laryngopharynx
    • Throat structures
      • Soft palate
      • Anterior and posterior pillars
      • Uvula
      • Palatine tonsils
      • Lingual tonsils
      • Pharyngeal tonsils
    • Tonsils are masses of lymphoid tissue that help protect against infection
    • Conditions associated with changes in smell and taste
      • Chronic sinusitis
      • Hypertension
      • Hematologic malignancy
      • Coagulopathy
      • Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
      • Older age
      • Colder weather
    • A loss of smell and taste may be an indication that the person is a carrier of COVID-19 or another virus before other symptoms appear
    • Ability to smell and taste
      • Decreases with age
      • Can also decrease due to medications and neurodegenerative conditions
    • Thin, watery, clear nasal drainage
      Can indicate a chronic allergy or a cerebrospinal fluid leak in a client with a past head injury
    • Mucous drainage, especially yellow
      Typical of a cold, rhinitis, or a sinus infection
    • The overwhelming majority of upper respiratory illnesses are viral.
    • Inability to breathe through both nostrils
      May indicate sinus congestion, obstruction, or a deviated septum
    • Nasal congestion can interfere with daily activities or a restful sleep.
    • Decrease in the ability to smell
      • May occur with lesions of the optic nerve or facial nerve; head injuries; upper respiratory tract infections; conditions affecting the nasal passages, including nasal polyps and sinusitis; and disorders associated with aging or neurologic illnesses, such as Parkinson disease or Alzheimer disease
    • Other causes of changes in perception of taste and smell
      • Aging
      • Hormonal disturbances (including menopause)
      • Dental problems
      • Exposure to certain chemicals such as pesticides and solvents
      • Many medications (especially some antibiotics and antihistamines)
      • Radiation treatment for head and neck cancers
      • Zinc deficiency
    • Olfactory dysfunction has been linked to mortality in older adults
    • Painful, recurrent ulcers in the mouth are seen with aphthous stomatitis (canker sores) and herpes simplex (cold sores)
    • Mouth or tongue sores that do not heal; red or white patches that persist; a lump or thickening; or rough, crusty, or eroded areas are warning signs of cancer and need to be referred for further evaluation
    • Red, swollen gums that bleed easily

      Occur in early gum disease (gingivitis)
    • Recession of the gums accompanied by tooth loss

      Occur in more advanced gum disease (periodontitis)
    • Periodontal disease is highly correlated with cardiovascular disease
    • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or odynophagia (painful swallowing)

      May be seen with tumors of the pharynx, esophagus, or surrounding structures, disorders
    • Dysphagia increases the risk for aspiration, and clients with dysphagia may require consultation with a speech therapist
    • Difficulty chewing or moving the tongue or jaws
      May be a late sign of oral cancer