Anatomy & Body Regions, OET Vocabulary
OET Must-Know Vocabulary: Head & Neck Anatomy
Nov
Understanding head and neck anatomy terms is essential for OET Speaking, Listening, and real clinical communication.
Below is a quick, simple reference you can study anytime. Start with the short video, then review the list of key terms with OET-style example sentences.
Head & Neck Vocabulary List (with OET Examples)
Back & Side of the Head
Occiput – Back of the head
Example (clinical note): “Tenderness is noted over the occiput following the fall.”
Temple – Side of your head between eye and ear
Example (patient complaint): “I feel a sharp throbbing pain around my left temple.”
Scalp – Skin covering the top of the head
Example (clinical note): “The scalp shows mild swelling but no open wound.”
Forehead & Eye Area
Forehead – Area above your eyebrows
Example (exam): “The forehead is warm to touch with no visible rash.”
Glabella – Smooth area between eyebrows
Example (clinical note): “Pressure over the glabella reproduces the patient’s discomfort.”
Eyebrow – Hair line above the eye
Example (patient complaint): “It feels tender just above my eyebrow when I press here.”
Eyelid – Fold of skin that protects the eye
Example (clinical note): “The upper eyelid appears swollen and slightly erythematous.”
Cilium – Eyelash protecting the eye
Example (clinical note): “One cilium is turned inward, causing irritation.”
Oculus – The eyeball, organ of vision
Example (exam): “The oculus moves normally in all directions.”
Pupil – Black part that controls light
Example (clinical note): “The pupils are equal and reactive to light.”
Cheeks, Skin, and Nose
Dimple – Small hollow on the cheek
Example (general): “The patient has a natural dimple on the right cheek.”
Bucca – Cheek area beside the mouth
Example (clinical note): “There is mild swelling over the left bucca.”
Lentigo – Small dark spot on the skin
Example (clinical note): “A single lentigo is present without suspicious changes.”
Dorsum of nose – Bridge of the nose
Example (clinical note): “Bruising is visible along the dorsum of the nose.”
Ala of nose – Outer sides of the nostrils
Example (exam): “The right ala of the nose appears inflamed.”
Nostril – Opening of the nose for air
Example (patient complaint): “I can’t breathe well through my left nostril.”
Mouth & Lower Face
Gingiva – Gums supporting the teeth
Example (clinical note): “The gingiva around the molars is slightly swollen.”
Lip – Soft edge of the mouth
Example (clinical note): “The lower lip has a small superficial cut.”
Jaw – Bone forming the lower face
Example (patient complaint): “My jaw feels stiff when I wake up.”
Beard – Hair on chin and cheeks
Example (general): “The patient recently trimmed his beard.”
Mentum – Tip of the chin
Example (clinical note): “There is mild tenderness at the mentum after the impact.”
Neck & Throat Area
Throat – Passage for air and food
Example (patient complaint): “It hurts to swallow; my throat feels very sore.”
Laryngeal prominence – Adam’s apple
Example (exam): “The laryngeal prominence moves normally on swallowing.”
Sternocleidomastoid – Neck-turning muscle
Example (clinical note): “The sternocleidomastoid is tight on the right side.”
Nucha – Back of the neck
Example (patient complaint): “I feel stiffness along the nucha, especially in the morning.”
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