HEAD

SHAPE AND SYMMETRYNORMOCEPHALICSYMMETRICAL

PALPATATION OF THE HEADCONTOUR, MASSES, DEPRESSION AND

TENDERNESS

Normal skull is smooth, non tender and w/o masses or depression, the temporal artery is usually weaken peripheral pulse

INSPECTION and PALPATATION OF SCALP

• LESSION• MASSES

SCALP SHOULD BE SHINNY, INTACT AND W/O LESSION OR MASSES

INSPECTION OF THE HAIR

COLORHair varies from dark black to pale blonde based

on the amount melanin present.Patches of gray hair not associated with aging

can be indicative of nerve damageDISTRIBUTIONEvaluate the distribution of hair on the body,

eyebrows face and scalp

• TEXTUREHair may feel thin, straight,coarse,thick or curly.

It should be shiny and resilient when tracction is applied and should not come out in clumps in your hands

INSPECTION OF THE FACESymmetry • Eyebrows, eye, nose, mouth and ears

Face should be symmetrical, both palpebral fissures should be equal and the nasolabial fold should be present bilaterally

SHAPES ND FEATURES

• NOTE ANY SWELLING, ABNORMAL FEATURES OR UNUSUAL MOVEMENTS

INSPECTION AND PALPATION OF THE NECK

• ASSESS FOR LIMITATION OF MOTION• NOTE FOR THE PRESENCE OF MASSES OR

TENDERNESS

THE MUSCLE OF THE NECK ARE SYMMETRICAL WITH THE HEAD IN CENTRAL POSITION. THE PATIENT IS ABLE TO MOVE THE HEAD THROUGH A FULL RANGE OF MOTION W/O DISCOMFORT OR LIMITATION

INSPECTION OF THYROID GLAND

• Observe the front of the nick in the area of thyroid and the isthmus for masses and symmetrical movement

• Thyroid tissues moves up with swallowing but often the movement is so small it is not visible on inspection.