Method Of Exam

Author: A. Chandrasekhar, MD
  1. Position yourself in front of the patient and note the position of the thyroid cartilage.
  2. Inspect for the symmetry of clavicular insertion of both sternomastoids.
  3. Tracheal Position: Gently bend the head to relax the sternomastoids. By inserting your finger between the trachea and sternomastoid, assess and compare the space on either side.

Caution:

Make certain that the patient is seated straight or preferably standing erect.

Normal: Trachea is slightly tilted to right. As a result, the clavicular insertion of right Sternomastoid is slightly more prominent and the space between trachea and sternomastoid is smaller compared to left.