Eye and Ear Anatomy and Physiology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to eye and ear anatomy, physiology, and related pathologies.

Conjunctiva

A transparent mucous membrane that covers the eye except for the cornea.

Lacrimal Gland

Gland that secretes tears to lubricate the eye and wash away irritants.

Tarsal Plates

Connective tissue within eyelids that supports their structure.

Optic Nerve

Nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Aqueous Humor

Fluid in the anterior segment of the eye that provides nutrients and maintains intraocular pressure.

Ciliary Body

Part of the eye that encircles the lens and contains ciliary muscles involved in lens shape control.

Lens

Biconvex transparent structure that focuses light onto the retina.

Rods

Photoreceptor cells that are sensitive to dim light and peripheral vision.

Cones

Photoreceptor cells that function in bright light and color vision.

Macula Lutea

Area of high visual acuity that contains a high concentration of cones.

Fovea Centralis

The central pit in the macula with the highest concentration of cones for sharp vision.

Cochlear Nerve

Nerve that carries auditory information from the inner ear to the brain.

Ossicles

Three tiny bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

Tympanic Membrane

The eardrum, which vibrates in response to sound waves.

Semicircular Canals

Structures in the inner ear that assist with balance and spatial orientation.

Vestibular Apparatus

The structure that helps maintain equilibrium through signals about head position and movement.

Phototransduction

The process by which photoreceptor cells convert light into neural signals.

Glaucoma

A pathological condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that can lead to blindness.

Cataract

Clouding of the lens resulting in blurred vision.

Anosmia

Loss of the sense of smell.

Motion Sickness

A condition triggered by conflicting sensory signals regarding movement.

Vestibular Nystagmus

Involuntary eye movements that occur as a response to rotational movement.

Taste Buds

Sensory organs located mostly on the tongue that detect taste.

Gustatory Transduction

The process by which taste stimuli are transformed into neural signals.