Med Terms The Ear Chapter 11

Adenoid

single mass of lymphoid tissue in the midline at the back of the throat

Auditory

related to hearing or the organs of hearing

Auricle

the shell-like external ear

Cerumen

waxy secretion of glands of the external ear

Ceruminous

pertaining to cerumen

Eustachian Tube

tube that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx

Incus

Middle one of the the three ossicles in the middle ear, shaped like an anvil

Malleus

Outer (lateral) one of the three ossicles in the middle ear, shaped like a hammer

Mastoid

Small bony protrusion immediately behind the ear

Meatus

Passage or channel; also the external opening of a passage

Pinna

another name for auricle

Nasopharynx

Region of the pharynx at the back of the nose and above the soft palate

Nasopharyngeal

pertaining to the nasopharynx

Ossicle

a small bone, particularly relating to the three bones in the middle ear

Stapes

inner (medial) one of the three ossicles of the middle ear, shaped like a stirrup

Tympanic

pertaining to the tympanic membrane (eardrum) or tympanic cavity

Ampulla

dilated portion of a canal or duct

Basilar

Pertaining to the base of a structure

Cochlea

An intricate combination of passages; used to describe the part of the inner ear being used in hearing

Cochlear

pertaining to the cochlea

Crista Ampullae

Mound of hair cells and gelatinous material in the ampulla of a semicircular canal

Equilibrium

Being evenly balanced

Labyrinth

The inner ear

Otolith

A calcium particle in the vestibule of the inner ear

Vestibule

Space at the entrance to a canal

Vestibular

Pertaining to the vestibular of the inner ear.

AOM

Acute Otitis Media

URI

upper respiratory infection

OME

otitis media with effusion

Otomycosis

fungal ear condition

Acute

disease of sudden onset

Bilateral

on two sides; e.g. in both ears

Chronic

a persistent, long-term disease

Cholesteatoma

Yellow, waxy tumor arising in the middle ear

Conductive hearing loss

Hearing loss caused by lesions in the outer ear or middle ear

Coryza or Acute Rhinitis

Viral inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose

Effusion

Immovably wedged, as with earwax blocking the external canal

Labyrinthitis

Inflammation of the inner ear

Menier Disease

Disorder of the inner ear with acute attacks of tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss

Otitis Externa

Inflammation of the the external ear

Otitis Media

inflammation of the middle ear

Otosclerosis

Hardening at the junction of the stapes and oval window that causes loss of hearing

Otosclerosis

Formation of spongy bone at the junction between the stapes and the oval window.

Paroxysmal

Occurring in sharp, spasmodic episodes

Perforated

Puncture with one or more holes

Perforation

a hole through the wall of a structure

Pyrexia

Increased body temperature that is a physiologic response to a disease

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by lesions of the inner ear or the auditory nerve

Tinnitus

Persistent Ringing, whistling, clicking, or booming noise in the ears

Vertigo

sensation of spinning or whirling

ABR

auditory brainstem response

AD

right ear

AS

left ear

AU

both ears

AuD

Doctor of Audiology

CAT

computed axial tomography

ENT

ear, nose, and throat

CAT

computerized axial tomography

ECOG

electrocochleography

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

VNG

videonystagmography

Audiology

Study of hearing disorders

Audiologist

specialist in evaluation of hearing function

Audiometer

Instrument to measure hearing

Audiometric

Pertaining to the measurement of hearing

Audiometry

The measurement of hearing

Electrocochleography

Measurement of the electrical potentials generated in the inner ear by sounds

Otologist

Medical specialist in disease of the ear

Otology

Diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ear

Otorhinolaryngologist

Ear, nose, and throat medical specialist

Otoscope

Instrument for examining the external and middle ears

Otoscopic

Pertaining to the examination with an otoscope

Otoscopy

Examination of the ear

Pneumatic

Pertaining to a structure filled with air

Rinne Test

Test for conductive hearing loss

Tympanography

Recording pressure changes inside the ear

Tympanometry

Measurement of pressure changes between the middle and inner ears

Video

Media product with visual elements displayed on a computer monitor

Videonystagmography

Process of recording eye movements as a response to visual stimuli and position changes

Weber Test

Test for sensorineural hearing loss

Acetaminophen

Medication that is an analgesia and antipyretic

Curette

Scoop-shaped instrument for scraping the interior of a cavity or removing new growths

Curettage

Scraping the interior of a cavity or removing a new growth

Debridement

The removal of necrotic or injured tissue

Digitize

To change analog information into a numerical format to facilitate computer processing

Implant

To insert material into tissues; or the material inserted into tissues

Irrigation

Use of water; e.g. to remove wax from the external ear canal

Maneuver

A planned movement or procedure

Mastoidectomy

Surgical removal of the mastoid bone

Myringotomy

Incision in the tympanic membrane

Necrosis

Pathologic death of one or more cells

Necrotic

Affected by necrosis

Prosthesis

Manufactured substitute for a missing or diseased part of the body

Stapedotomy

Microsurgical procedure for otosclerosis in which stapes prosthesis is placed in a hole in stapes footplate

Topical

Medication applied directly to obtain a local effect

Tympanocentesis

Puncture of the tympanic membrane with a needle

Tympanostomy

Surgically created new opening in the tympanic membrane to allow fluid to drain from the middle ear

Valsalva

Any forced expiratory effort against a closed airway