ch 13 special senses ears

acous/o

hearing

• audit/o

hearing

• myring/o, tympan/o

tympanic membrane (eardrum)

• ot/o

ear

• salping/o

tube (usually eustachian tube)

• acusis

hearing

• cerumen

earwax; acts as a filter by trapping dust and other foreign substances

• ossicles

three tiny bones in middle ear: malleus, incus, and stapes

• cochlea

snail-shaped structure containing hair cells for hearing 

• labyrinth

inner ear; series of fluid

• organ of Corti

sensitive auditory receptor area in the cochlea

• otitis media

inflammation of the middle ear

• otosclerosis

progressive deafness due to ossification in the bony labyrinth

• presbycusis

impairment of hearing in old age

• tinnitus

ringing or tinkling noise heard in the ears

• vertigo

sensation of moving around in space or a feeling of dizziness