MA113 Week 1

auditory ossicles

Small bones; specifically, the three bones of the tympanic cavity or middle ear.

auricle

The outside part of the ear, made of cartilage and covered with skin.

cerumen

A wax-like substance produced by glands in the external auditory canal; also called earwax.

choroid

Forms most of the eye's vascular layer and contains most of the eye's blood vessels.

cochlea

A spiral-shaped canal in the internal ear that contains the hearing receptors.

conjunctiva

The protective mucous membrane that lines the inner surfaces of the eyelids and covers the anterior portion of the sclera, or the white of the eye.

cornea

A transparent area on the front of the outer layer of the eye that acts as a window to let light into the eye.

eustachian tube

An opening in the middle ear, leading to the back of the throat, that helps equalize air pressure on both sides of the eardrum; also known as the auditory tube.

external auditory canal

Canal that carries sound waves from the environment to the tympanic membrane; also known as the external acoustic meatus.

labyrinth

The chambers and tubes within the temporal bone that house the receptors of hearing and equilibrium. It includes the vestibule, semicircular canals, and cochlea.

lingual papillae

The "bumps" of the tongue in which the taste buds are found.

oval window

The beginning of the inner ear.

refraction

The bending of light by the cornea, lens, and eye fluids to focus light onto the retina.

retina

The inner layer of the eye; contains light-sensing photoreceptors.

semicircular canals

Portion of the bony labyrinth that contains the semicircular ducts, which contain receptors for equilibrium; each of the three canals is positioned at right angles to the other two.

spiral organ

The organ of hearing, located within the cochlea of the internal ear.

tympanic membrane

A fibrous partition located at the inner end of the external auditory canal that separates the external ear from the middle ear; also called the eardrum.

vestibule

The portion of the bony labyrinth in the internal ear between the semicircular canals and the cochlea. It contains receptors for equilibrium.

accommodation

The ability of the lens to change shape, allowing the eye to focus images of objects that are near or far away.

astigmatism

A condition in which the cornea has an abnormal shape, which causes blurred images during near or distant vision.

Audiologist

A healthcare specialist who focuses on evaluating and correcting hearing problems.

cataracts

Cloudy areas that form in the lens of the eye that prevent light from reaching visual receptors.

conductive hearing loss

A type of hearing loss that occurs when sound waves cannot be conducted through the ear. Most types are temporary.

myopia

A condition that occurs when light entering the eye is focused in front of the retina; commonly called nearsightedness.

presbyopia

A common eye disorder that results in the loss of lens elasticity. Presbyopia develops with age and causes a person to have difficulty seeing objects close up.

tinnitus

An abnormal ringing in the ear.