ch10_presentation

Introduction to Medical Terminology

Authors: Linda Stanhope and Kimberly TurnbullPublisher: Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Focus

Focus on various components of medical terminology related to the special senses.

Chapter 10: The Special Senses

Definition of Special Senses:

  • Hearing

  • Seeing

  • Tasting

  • Smelling

  • Touching

Medical Terms and the Special Senses

Many word parts are associated with the special senses, particularly regarding:

  • Anatomy and physiology

  • Pathology

  • Diagnosis and treatment

Combining Forms for the Special Senses

Sense

Combining Form

Hearing

acous/o

Smell

olfact/o

Eyelid

blephar/o

Ossicle

ossic/o

Cornea

corne/o

Light

phot/o

Tears

lacrim/o

Darkness

scot/o

Night

nyct/o

Glassy

vitre/o

Prefixes in Medical Terminology

Prefixes and their meanings:

  • a-, an-: not; without

  • ec-: out; outside

  • en-: in; within

  • hyper-: above; excessive

  • intra-: within; into

Suffixes in Medical Terminology

Suffixes and their meanings:

  • -cusis: hearing

  • -ism: process; condition

  • -opia: vision condition

  • -ptosis: droop; sag

  • -sclerosis: hardening; thickening

  • -tomy: process of cutting; incision

Vocabulary Practice

Meanings of selected word parts:

  • ambly/o: dull; dim

  • glauc/o: gray

  • presby/o: old age

  • eso-: inward

  • exo-: outward

  • -osmía: smell condition

  • -otia: ear condition

  • -tropia: to turn

Functions of the Special Senses

The special senses provide sensory input crucial for:

  • Gathering specific information

  • Enabling the brain to combine, interpret, and act on input

Organs and Structures of the Eye

Key Components:

  • Photoreceptors (rods and cones)

  • Aqueous humor: maintains shape and provides nutrients

  • Vitreous humor: keeps retina in place

Important Questions About the Eye

  • Photoreceptor for dim light: rods

  • Aqueous humor functions: gives eyeball its shape, cleanses and nourishes eye

Organs and Structures of the Ear, Nose, Tongue, and Skin

Comprehensive anatomical overview of each special sense organ, including the roles of the auditory canal, tympanic membrane, and taste buds.

Diseases and Conditions of the Eye

Common Disorders:

  • Amblyopia: reduced vision in one eye

  • Cataract: clouding of the lens

  • Dacryocystitis: infection of the nasolacrimal sac

  • Glaucoma: damage to optic nerve

  • Astigmatism: curvature imperfection of the eye

  • Myopia: nearsightedness

  • Presbyopia: gradual near vision loss

  • Exotropia: misalignment of eyes

  • Vitreous floaters: small clumps in the eye

Important Conditions of the Ear

Conditions Identified:

  • Acoustic neuroma: noncancerous tumor

  • Cholesteatoma: cyst at eardrum invading middle ear

  • Ménière’s disease: inner ear disorder causing vertigo and hearing loss

  • Otalgia: earache

  • Otosclerosis: abnormal bone growth within the ear

  • Tinnitus: ringing in the ears

Diseases and Conditions of Other Special Senses

Common Disorders:

  • Anosmia: loss of smell

  • Dysgeusia: taste disorder affecting all foods

  • Hyperosmia: increased smell sensitivity

Hearing Loss Types

Nerve Deafness

Nerve deafness, or sensorineural hearing loss, occurs due to damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. This can result from aging, exposure to loud noises, or certain medications that damage hair cells in the cochlea.

Conductive Deafness

Conductive deafness occurs when sound waves cannot travel through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear. This hearing loss can occur due to earwax buildup, fluid in the ear, or eardrum perforation.

Diagnostic Tests and Procedures

Common Tests:

  • Fluorescein angiography: assesses blood flow in retina

  • Audiometry: measures hearing ability

  • Otoscopy: examines ear structure

  • Various sensory tests: assessing touch, position sense, and stereognosis

Surgical Procedures and Therapeutics

Common Procedures:

  • Antibiotic therapy: treatment of infections

  • Laser photocoagulation: eye surgery using lasers

  • Cochlear implant: device to aid hearing

  • Enucleation: removal of eyeball

Common Medical Abbreviations

Key Abbreviations:

  • AD: right ear

  • AS: left ear

  • LASIK: laser in situ keratotomy

  • OU: each eye

  • VA: visual acuity

  • Vf: field of vision