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Tympanic Membrane Research Paper

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Tympanic Membrane and Thyroid Gland
Tabatha Hopkins
South University

Tympanic Membrane and Thyroid Gland The tympanic membrane and thyroid gland are two of the many features that will assessed on a patient. When abnormalities or disruption in the normal function of either of these persist, permanent damage can occur. To know if there is a disruption in the normal function, we must know what the normal function and purpose is. This paper will review possible finding for the tympanic membrane, how to examine the thyroid gland, and give an assessment note using the subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) note format.
Tympanic membrane
What is the tympanic membrane? The tympanic is commonly known as the eardrum. It separates the …show more content…

Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is in the middle of the neck and lays over the trachea. It is a very vascular endocrine gland responsible for secreting hormones such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) (Jarvis, 2015). These hormones stimulate the rate of cellular metabolism (Jarvis, 2015). This gland has two lobes. Both lay posteriorly between the sternomastoid muscle and the trachea (Jarvis, 2015).
Health Assessment History & findings for thyroid gland
Prior to the physical examination of the thyroid gland the examiner should as about any recent infections or tenderness in the neck (Jarvis, 2015). Ask if there have been any lumps or swelling noted in the neck (Jarvis, 2015). You would ask if there has been a history of thyroid problems and if so how has it been treated in the past (Jarvis, 2015). And lastly ask if there has ever been any surgical procedures or irradiation of the neck or neck region (Jarvis, …show more content…

You can position a lamp to shine across the neck to look for obvious lumps or enlargement or ask the patient to tilt the head back so the skin in taut across the gland (Jarvis, 2015). To visualize the rise and fall of the gland you can ask the patient to take a sip of water, the tissue should move up with the swallow and fall into a resting position afterward (Jarvis, 2015).
Using the posterior examination approach, stand behind the patient. Sitting up straight, have the patient relax the neck to the left side to relax the neck muscles on this side (Jarvis, 2015). Push the trachea slightly to the left using the fingers of your right hand (Jarvis, 2015). By retracting the trachea and the sternomastoid muscles you should be able to palpate the thyroid gland. You can ask the patient to swallow allowing you to feel the rise and fall of the gland (Jarvis, 2015). This procedure can be repeated on the opposite

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