ear book terms

acous/o

hearing

aer/o

air or gas

audi/o

hearing

aur/i

ear

cerumin/o

wax

myring/o

eardrum

ot/o

ear

salping/o

tube

tympan/o

eardrum

-acusis

hearing condition

external ear

outer structures of the ear that collect sound

auricle

projected part of the external ear; also called pinna (pinna = feather)

pinna

projected part of the external ear; also called auricle (little ear) (pinna = feather)

external acoustic meatus

external passage for sounds collected from the auricle to the tympanic membrane; also called external auditory meatus

cerumen

a waxy substance secreted by glands located throughout the external canal

middle ear

structures in the middle of the ear that vibrate sound from the tympanic membrane to the internal ear

tympanic membrane

eardrum; drum-like structure that receives sound collected in the external acoustic meatus and amplifies it through the middle ear; also called the tympanum

eustachian tube

tube connecting the middle ear to the pharynx (throat); also called the auditory tube

oval window

membrane that covers the opening between the middle ear and internal ear

internal ear

intricate, fluid-filled, intercommunicating bony and membranous passages that function in hearing by relaying sound waves to auditory nerve fibers on a path to the brain for interpretation, also equillibrium

cochlea

coiled tubular structure of the internal ear that contains the spiral organ (organ of Corti) (cochlea = snail); cochlear duct is the membranous tube within the cochlea

perilymph

fluid that fills the bony labyrinth of the internal ear

endolymph

fluid within the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear

spiral organ

structure located in the cochlea; contains receptors (hair cells) that receive vibrations and generate nerve impulses for hearing; also called organ of Corti

vestibule

middle part of the internal ear, in front of the semicircular canals and behind the cochlea, that contains the utricle and the saccule; functions to provide body balance and equilibrium

utricle

the larger of two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the internal ear (uter = leather bag)

saccule

the smaller of two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the internal ear (sacculus = small bag)

semicircular canals

three canals within the internal ear that contain specialized receptor cells that generate nerve impulses with body movement

otalgia

earache; also called otodynia

otorrhagia

bleeding from the ear

otorrhea

purulent drainage from the ear

tinnitus

a ringing or buzzing in the ear; a jingling

vertigo

a turning round; dizziness

otitis externa

inflammation of the external acoustic meatus

cerumen impaction

excessive buildup of wax in the ear that often reduces hearing acuity, especially in elderly persons

myringitis

inflammation of the eardrum; also called tympanitis

otitis media

inflammation of the middle ear

aerotitis media

inflammation of the middle ear from changes in atmospheric pressure; often occurs with frequent air travel

eustachian obstruction

blockage of the auditory (eustachian) tube, usually resulting from infection, as in otitis media

otosclerosis

hardening of the bony tissue in the ear

acoustic neuroma

benign, but life-threatening tumor of the vestibular division of the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII) that causes vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss; also called vestibular schwannoma

labyrinthitis

inflammation of the internal ear (labyrinth), usually accompanied by vertigo and deafness

Ménière disease

disorder of the internal ear resulting from an excessive buildup of endolymph, causing episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, and hearing loss; one or both ears can be affected, and attacks vary in both frequency and intensity (named after Prosper Ménière, the French physician who first described the condition)

deafness

general term for partial or complete loss of hearing

conductive hearing loss

hearing impairment caused by interference with sound or vibratory energy in the external canal, middle ear, or ossicles

sensorineural hearing loss

hearing impairment caused by lesions or dysfunction of the cochlea or cochlear (auditory) nerve

mixed hearing loss

combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss

presbyacusis

hearing impairment in old age; also called presbycusis

audiometry

process of measuring hearing

audiometer

instrument to measure hearing

audiogram

record of hearing measurement

audiologist

health professional who specializes in the study of hearing impairments

auditory acuity testing

physical assessment of hearing; useful in differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss

tuning fork

a two-pronged, fork-like instrument that vibrates when struck; used to test hearing, especially bone conduction; two types are Webber test and Rinne test

brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP)

electrodiagnostic testing that uses computerized equipment to measure involuntary responses to sound within the auditory nervous system; commonly used to assess hearing in newborns; also called brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER)

otoscope

instrument for examining the ear

otoscopy

use of an otoscope to examine the external acoustic meatus and tympanic membrane

pneumatic otoscopy

otoscopic observation of the tympanic membrane as air is released into the external acoustic meatus; immobility indicates the presence of middle ear effusion (fluid buildup), which occurs as a result of otitis media

tympanometry

measurement of the compliance and mobility (conductibility) of the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the middle ear by monitoring the response to external airflow pressures

microsurgery

surgery with the use of a microscope used on delicate tissue, such as the ear

myringotomy

incision into the eardrum, most often for insertion of a small polyethylene (PE) tube to keep the canal open and prevent fluid buildup, such as occurs in otitis media; also called tympanotomy

otoplasty

surgical repair of the external ear

stapedectomy

excision of the stapes to correct otosclerosis

tympanoplasty

surgical procedure to reconstruct the tympanic membrane and/or the auditory ossicles

auditory prosthesis

any internal or external device that improves or substitutes for natural hearing

hearing aid

an external amplifying device designed to improve hearing by more effective collection of sound into the ear

cochlear implant

an electronic device implanted in the cochlea that provides sound perception to patients with severe or profound sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss in both ears

ear lavage

irrigation of the external ear canal, often to remove excessive buildup of cerumen

ear instillation

introduction of a medicated solution into the external canal, usually administered by drop (gt) or drops (gtt) in the affected ears

antibiotic

a drug that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms; used to treat diseases caused by bacteria (e.g., otitis media)

antihistamine

a drug that blocks the effects of histamine

histamine

a regulatory body substance released in allergic reactions, causing swelling and inflammation of tissues; seen in hay fever and urticaria (hives)

anti-inflammatory

a drug that reduces inflammation

decongestant

a drug that reduces congestion and swelling of membranes, such as those of the nose and auditory tube in an infection