EARS AND NOSE PRACTICE FLASHCARDS

Vocabulary flashcards covering ear and nose anatomy, clinical review of systems, and common conditions such as otitis, hearing loss, vertigo types, and sinusitis.

Otitis Externa

Inflammation of the external auditory canal, located in the external canal, characteristically aching or throbbing, and often aggravated by swimming or manipulation of the auricle or tragus.

Otitis Media

Bacterial infection in the middle ear often triggered by an upper respiratory infection, usually unilateral and located deep in the ear, presenting with throbbing or pressure-like character.

Conductive Hearing Loss

A mechanical disruption of the external auditory canal or middle ear, common in children and young adults up to age $40$, where hearing may actually improve in a noisy environment.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

A disorder of the inner ear involving the cochlear nerve and neuronal impulse transmission to the brain, usually with a gradual onset in middle to later years of life.

Benign Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Vertigo provoked by sudden changes in head posture, with an onset that is sudden and a duration of a few seconds to less than $1$ minute.

Vestibular Neuronitis

Inflammation of the vestibular portion of the $VIII$ cranial nerve, often triggered by a viral infection and lasting hours to weeks without association to hearing loss or tinnitus.

Acute Labyrinthitis

Inflammation of the labyrinth of the inner ear, often occurring after an upper respiratory infection, associated with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, nausea, and vomiting.

Meniere Disease

A disorder related to fluid build up in the inner ear, characterized by sudden onset, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and pressure or fullness in the affected ear.

Viral Sinusitis

Sinus inflammation with a gradual onset lasting less than $10$ days, associated with headache, malaise, cough, and congestion.

Bacterial Sinusitis

Sinus inflammation with an acute onset of symptoms lasting at least $10$ days, associated with fever, facial pain, pressure, and headache.

Otalgia

Term for earache as listed in the Ear Review of Systems (ROS).

Otorrhea

Term for ear discharge as listed in the Ear Review of Systems (ROS).

Tinnitus

Ringing in the ears, which can be constant and occur in one or both ears.

Epistaxis

Medical term for a nosebleed, included in the Nose Review of Systems (ROS).

Rhinorrhea

Medical term for nasal discharge, included in the Nose Review of Systems (ROS).

Hyperacusis

Increased sensitivity to sound, listed as a concern in the Ear Review of Systems (ROS).

Pruritis

Itching, specifically listed as an ear-related concern in the Review of Systems (ROS).

Pinna

Part of the external ear anatomy, which includes the helix, antihelix, and concha.

Tympanic membrane

The anatomical structure separating the ear canal from the tympanic cavity, also known as the eardrum.

Eustachian tube

Connected to the tympanic cavity, this structure helps equalize pressure in the middle ear.