Chapter 17: Ear Pathology

Question 1

acoustic neuroma

Answer 1

benign tumour arising from the acoustic vestibulocochlear nerve (eighth cranial nerve) in the brain

Question 2

cholesteatoma

Answer 2

collection of skin cells and cholesterol in a sac within the middle ear

Question 3

deafness

Answer 3

loss of the ability to hear

Question 4

Meniere disease

Answer 4

Disorder of the labyrinth of the inner ear; elevated endolymph pressure within the cochlea (cochlear hydrops) and semicicular canals (vestibular hydrops)

Question 5

otitis media

Answer 5

inflammation of the middle ear

Question 6

otosclerosis

Answer 6

hardening of the bony tissue of the middle ear

Question 7

tinnitus

Answer 7

sensation of noises (ringing, buzzing, whistling, booming) in the ears

Question 8

vertigo

Answer 8

sensation of irregular or whirling motion either of oneself or of external objects

Question 9

audiometry

Answer 9

testing the sense of hearing

Question 10

cochlear implant procedure

Answer 10

surgical insertion of a device that allows sensorineural hearing-impaired persons to understand speech

Question 11

ear thermometry

Answer 11

measurement of the temperature of the tympanic membrane by detection of infrared radiation from the eardrum

Question 12

otoscopy

Answer 12

visual examination of the ear canal with an otoscope

Question 13

tuning fork test

Answer 13

test of ear conduction using a vibration source (tuning fork)