NUR 104 Consolidated Sensory Notes

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering sensory system assessment, ocular disorders, auditory structures, hearing tests, and ear pathologies from NUR 104.

Snellen chart

A test for distance visual acuity, typically performed at $20\text{ feet}$, where a larger denominator indicates poorer acuity.

Jaeger chart

A test for near vision, held approximately $14\text{ inches}$ away from the eyes.

Ishihara plates

A diagnostic tool used to assess color vision, particularly red-green deficiencies.

Stereopsis

The clinical term for depth perception.

Amsler grid

A test used to evaluate central visual distortion or missing areas; perception of wavy lines can indicate macular disease.

Refraction

The assessment or refractometry process that determines corrective lens power.

Mydriatics

A class of ophthalmic medications that dilate pupils.

Miotics

A class of ophthalmic medications that constrict pupils.

Cycloplegics

Ophthalmic agents that temporarily paralyze accommodation, usually causing pupillary dilation.

Arcus senilis

An expected age-related change characterized by a gray-white peripheral corneal ring.

Morgan lens

A specialized ocular device used by trained staff to deliver immediate, copious irrigation after a chemical splash to the eye.

Hordeolum

An acute, painful infection of an eyelid gland, commonly called a stye.

Chalazion

A localized eyelid swelling usually caused by a noninfectious blocked eyelid oil gland.

Blepharitis

Inflammation of the lid margins characterized by redness and crusting.

Trachoma

A chlamydial eye infection that can lead to blindness.

Keratitis

Corneal inflammation or infection (including bacterial and herpes simplex etiologies) that is potentially vision-threatening, especially in contact lens users.

Corneal ulcer

An open corneal lesion, often infectious, causing ocular pain, redness, foreign-body sensation, and decreased visual acuity.

Tympanic membrane

The membrane separating the external ear from the middle ear; normally appears intact, shiny/translucent, and pearly gray.

Ossicles

The middle-ear bones—malleus, incus, and stapes—that transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.

Presbycusis

Age-related sensorineural hearing loss.

Otitis externa

Inflammation or infection of the external auditory canal, also known as swimmer's ear, presenting with pain, redness, tenderness, and sometimes drainage.

Otitis media

An infection of the middle ear presenting with pain, fever, and a red, bulging tympanic membrane.

Otosclerosis

Abnormal bony remodeling around the stapes that impairs sound transmission and classically causes conductive hearing loss.

Ménière disease

An inner-ear disorder characterized by recurrent spontaneous vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or aural fullness.

Conductive hearing loss

Hearing impairment caused by an obstruction or sound transmission problem located in the external or middle ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Hearing impairment caused by pathology or damage situated within the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Rinne test

A tuning fork test comparing sound conduction through air and bone; normally air conduction exceeds bone conduction ($\text{AC} > \text{BC}$).

Weber test

A tuning fork assessment of lateralization; sound lateralizes to the affected ear in conductive loss and to the better ear in sensorineural loss.