STRUCTURES OF THE HEAD/FACE

the eye

• sclera

  • the outer layer & white of the eye

  • maintains the shape of the eye

  • provides fluid for smooth eye

    protects delicate structures w/i eye

  • covered by conjunctiva

• extrinsic & intrinsic eye muscles

  • responsible for moving the eye

  • left, right, up, down, & dilation

  • attached to outside of sclera

• cornea

  • located in the center of the sclerotic coat

  • circular & clear area that is transparent to permit light rays to pass through

  • consists of 5 layers of flat cells arranged like sheets or plates of glass

  • pain & touch receptors that are sensitive to foreign objects

  • injury may cause scarring or impairment

• choroid coat, iris, pupil

  • the middle layer of the eye

  • prevents light reflection w/i the eye

  • pupil

    • circular opening in front of the choroid coat

    • the opening …

• lens & related structures

  • crystalline structure located behind the iris & pupil

  • disc shaped structures w/ ant. & post. concave & convex surfaces

  • held in place by the aqueous humor & vitreous humor (eye fluid)

• retina

  • innermost & third coat of the eye btwn the vitreous humor & choroid coat

  • light sensitive layer that forms image & can be corrected w/ glasses/contacts

  • contains pigment & specialized cells known as rods (dim light) & cones (bright light & color)

• optic disc & fovea

  • fovea …

• optic nerve

  • responsible for blind spot

eye injuries

• specks in the eyes

  • a scratch or cut caused by dirt or some other foreign object can cause a corneal abrasion

• corneal abrasion

  • …

• cuts, punctures, & abrasions of the eye or eyelid

  • can cause infection & blindness

  • considered a medical emergency

  • needs to be stabilized in place

• orbital blow-out fracture

  • a fracture to the bones of the eye socket

  • almost always due to a blunt blow from a relatively large object

• hyphema

  • bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye

  • blunt trauma to the eye from a ball, finger, etc to the eye

  • typically goes away by itself & returns to somewhat normal

  • rest & avoid strenuous eye activity for a day or two

• conjunctivitis

  • commonly known as pink eye

  • from an upper respiratory tract infection (bacterial)

  • or due to an allergy (not contagious)

  • discharge & redness surrounding eye

• results from injuries depending on the severity / damage to optic nerve

the ear

• outer, inner, & middle

• outer

  • auricle/pinna

• middle

  • malleus, incus, & stapes

  • purpose is to vibrate sound waves

• vestibular nerve = balance

• auditory nerve = …

ear injuries

• cauliflower ear

  • outer ear injury

  • typically seen in wrestlers & boxers

  • trauma destroys underlying cartilage over time

  • signs & symptoms: cauliflower appearance

  • treatment: physician drains & applies bandage to compress skin to cartilage

  • rehab: physician must clear & fitted headgear is required

• swimmer’s ear

  • middle to outer ear

  • can be seen by simply looking at someone’s ear

  • infection of skin covering the outer ear canal

  • can be a bacterial or fungal infection

  • caused by excessive exposure to water

  • structural ear differences btwn ppl or ear wax

  • signs & symptoms: itchy & swollen ears

  • treatment/prevention: drying ear drops

  • rehab: may return after treatment

• foreign things lodged in the ear

  • flush it out w/ water

  • objects may be difficult to grasp & remove due to the size of ear canal

  • usually occurs in children under the age of 5

• tympanic membrane (eardrum) rupture

  • perforation of tympanic membrane

  • trauma is the most common cause (bomb, gunshot, etc)

the nose

• the body’s sense of smell

• composition of bone, cartilage, & skin

• serves as an air passage btwn nostrils & throat

• can detect about 10,000 diff smells & accounts for 90% of what we think of as taste

nose injuries

• epistaxis

  • nosebleed

  • anterior common cause = nasal dryness

  • posterior common cause = vascular disease

  • pinch, put in cotton swabs & gauze, lean forward slightly

  • cauterize if nosebleeds are a big issue

• nasal fractures & septal deviations

  • looks like a dark bulge coming from the side of the septum

  • hematoma needs to drain asap to avoid worsening

  • collecting in cartilage cavity = good risk of infection

  • infection —> cartilage dies —> nose caves in