Ch 9 The Outer Ear Flashcards
Tragus
A fold of skin that can be used to close off the external auditory meatus.
Pinna or Auricle
The part of the outer ear that channels sound into the external auditory meatus to the tympanic membrane.
External Auditory Canal or Meatus
The ear canal
Cerumen
Earwax
Otalgia
Ear pain
Tympanic Membrane
A concave, disk-like structure at the end of the external auditory meatus that transfers acoustic energy into mechanical energy by vibrating in reaction to sound waves.
Malleus
The largest middle ear bone. This bone is attached to the tympanic membrane at the manubrium and attached to the incus at the head.
Umbo
The point of greatest retraction on the tympanic membrane.
Otoscope
A tool used to illuminate, magnify, and examine the tympanic membrane
Annulus
A ring of tissue that holds the tympanic membrane in position in the external auditory meatus.
Pars Flaccida
Loose tissue at the top of the tympanic membrane above the malleus.
Pharyngeal Arches
Bulges that appear on either side of the tissue that will develop into the head and neck in an embryo.
Pharyngeal Arch Layers
Ectoderm: Outer Layer
Entoderm: Inner Surface
Mesoderm: Inner Core
Mesenchyme
Embryonic tissue that later forms the connective tissues of the body, as well as the blood vessels and the lymphatic vessels.
Microtia
When one or both auricles are very small compared to normal sized auricles.
Anotia
When the auricle is entirely absent
Otic Atresia
When the cartilaginous portion, or the entirety of the external auditory meatus has not formed
External Otitis
An infection that occurs in the skin of the external auditory canal. Often called swimmer’s ear.
Otomycosis
A fungal external ear infection often caused by overuse of eardrops
Furunculosis
Infection of hair follicles in the EAM
Myringitis
Inflammation of the TM
Exostoses
The outward projections for surfaces of bone. Sometimes seen in the EAM, causing a conductive hearing loss.
Pressure-Equalizing Tubes (PE Tubes)
Tubes placed in the TM to allow drainage and pressure equalization of the middle ear.
Cerumenolytic
A chemical substance known to safely soften earwax.
Myringoplasty
Surgical repair of a perforated tympanic membrane.
Tympanosclerosis
Thickening of the tympanic membrane due to calcium plaque building up on the TM
