Anatomy of the Eye and Ear

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary and definitions related to the anatomy of the eye and ear.

Lacrimal Sac

Gathers tears as they drain from the eye.

Iris

The colored part of the eye; consists of two muscles: sphincter and dilator.

Sphincter of the Iris

Muscle that constricts the pupil to reduce light intake.

Dilator

Muscle that opens the pupil to allow more light in.

Choroid

The vascular layer of the eye that contains blood vessels.

Vitreous Humor

The clear fluid in the posterior compartment of the eye.

Cornea

The clear front part of the eye that refracts light.

Retina

The inner layer of the eye containing photoreceptors (rods and cones).

Optic Nerve

Transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped organ responsible for hearing.

Semicircular Canals

Three interconnected tubes that help maintain balance.

Tympanic Membrane

Also known as the eardrum; vibrates in response to sound waves.

Ossicles

The three small bones (malleus, incus, stapes) in the middle ear that transmit sound.

Eustachian Tube

Connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, helps equalize pressure.

Vestibule

Part of the inner ear involved in balance and spatial orientation.

Cranial Nerve VIII (Vestibulocochlear Nerve)

Responsible for hearing and balance.

Organ of Corti

Sensory organ in the cochlea that contains hair cells for hearing.

Auricle (Pinna)

The visible part of the ear that collects sound waves.

Aqueous Humor

The fluid in the anterior segment of the eye.

Photoreceptors

Cells in the retina (rods and cones) that convert light into neural signals.

Optic Disc

The blind spot of the eye where the optic nerve exits.

Eustachian Tube Function

Facilitates drainage and equalizes pressure in the middle ear.