Chapter 11 (Vocabulary) Ear Flashcards
Abbreviations relating to ear, medical term right ear left ear each ear both ears
auris dexter
auris sinister
auris uterque
auris unit as
Pertaining to the sense of hearing.
auditory
Pertaining to sound or hearing.
acoustic
The process by which sound waves enter the ear through the pinna & then travel down the external auditory canal until they strike the tympanic membrane, which is located btw the outer ear and middle ear.
air conduction (AC)
This occurs as the eardrum vibrates and causes the auditory ossicles of the middle ear to vibrate. The vibration of these bones transmits the sound waves through the middle ear to the oval window of the inner ear.
bone conduction
Occurs when these sound vibrations reach the inner ear. The structures of the inner ear receive the sound waves and relay them to the auditory nerve for transmission to the brain.
sensorineural conduction
Specializes in the measurement of hearing function and in the rehabilitation of persons with hearing impairments.
audiologist
An accumulation of earwax that forms a solid mass by adhering to the walls of the external auditory canal.
impacted cerumen (earwax)
Pain in the ear - earache.
otalgia
Any inflammation of the ear. The second part of the term gives the location of the inflammation.
otitis [example otitis externa is an inflammation of the external auditory canal.]
A fungal infection of the external auditory canal.
otomycosis
The flow of pus from the ear.
otopyorrhea
Any discharge from the ear. In rare cases this could include leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
otorrhea
Bleeding from the ear.
otorrhagia
A pressure related ear condition. These conditions can be caused by pressure changes when flying, driving in the mountains, scuba diving, or when the eustachian tube is blocked.
barotrauma
A destructive epidermal cyst in the middle ear and/or the mastoid process made up of epithelial cells and cholesterol. It can be congenital or a serious complication of chronic otitis media.
cholesteatoma, aka pearly tumor
An inflammation of any part of the mastoid bone cells. This condition may develop when acute otitis media that cannot be controlled with antibiotics spreads to the mastoid process.
mastoiditis
A contagious inflammation that causes painful blisters on the eardrum. This condition is associated with a middle ear infection. It is not to be confused with infectious meningitis, which is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
infectious myringitis
Inflammation of the middle ear.
otitis media
Usually associated with an upper respiratory infection & is most commonly seen in young children. This condition can lead to a ruptured eardrum due to the buildup of pus or fluid in the middle ear.
acute otitis media
A fluid buildup in the middle ear w/o symptoms of an infection. This condition can follow acute otitis media or can be caused by obstruction of the eustachian tube.
serous otitis