Ear

Question 1

acous/o, audi/o

Answer 1

hearing

Question 2

aer/o

Answer 2

air or gas

Question 3

aur/i, ot/o

Answer 3

ear

Question 4

cerumin/o

Answer 4

wax

Question 5

salping/o

Answer 5

eustachian tube or uterine tube

Question 6

tympan/o, myring/o

Answer 6

eardrum

Question 7

acusis

Answer 7

hearing condition

Question 8

outer structures of the ear that collect sound

Answer 8

external ear

Question 9

auricle (little ear); projected part of the external ear

Answer 9

pinna

Question 10

external passage for sounds collected from the pinna to the tympanum

Answer 10

external auditory meatus (canal)

Question 11

a waxy substance secreted by glands located through the external canal

Answer 11

cerumen

Question 12

structures in the middle of the ear that vibrate sound from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear

Answer 12

middle ear

Question 13

eardrum; drum-like structure that receives sound collected in the external auditory canal (meatus) and amplifies it through the middle ear

Answer 13

tympanic membrane (TM)

Question 14

hammer; first of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

Answer 14

malleus

Question 15

anvil; middle of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

Answer 15

incus

Question 16

stirrup; last of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

Answer 16

stapes

Question 17

tube connecting the middle ear to the pharynx

Answer 17

eustachian (auditory) tube

Question 18

membrane that covers the opening between the middle ear and inner ear

Answer 18

oval window

Question 19

intricate, fluid-filled, intercommunicating bony and membranous passages that function in hearing by relaying sound waves to auditory nerve fibers on a path to the brain for interpretation; also sense body movement and position to maintain balance and equilibrium

Answer 19

inner ear, labyrinth

Question 20

coiled tubular structure of the inner ear that contains the organ of Corti

Answer 20

cochlea

Question 21

fluid that fills the bony labyrinth of the inner ear

Answer 21

perilymph

Question 22

fluid within the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear

Answer 22

endolymph

Question 23

structure located in the cochlea; contains receptors (hair cells) that receive vibrations and generate nerve impulses for hearing

Answer 23

organ of Corti

Question 24

middle part of the inner ear, in front of the semicircular canals and behind the cochlea, that contains the utricle and the saccule; functions to provide body balance and equilibrium

Answer 24

vestibule

Question 25

the larger of the two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the inner ear

Answer 25

utricle

Question 26

the smaller of the two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the inner ear

Answer 26

saccule

Question 27

three canals within the inner ear that contain specialized receptor cells that generate nerve impulses with body movement

Answer 27

semicircular canals

Question 28

earache

Answer 28

otalgia, otodynia

Question 29

bleeding from the ear

Answer 29

otorrhagia

Question 30

purulent drainage from the ear

Answer 30

otorrhea

Question 31

a jingling; a ringing or buzzing in the ear

Answer 31

tinnitus

Question 32

a turning round; dizziness

Answer 32

vertigo

Question 33

inflammation of the external auditory meatus (canal)

Answer 33

otitis externa

Question 34

excessive buildup of wax in the ear that often reduces hearing acuity, especially in elderly persons

Answer 34

cerumen impaction

Question 35

inflammation of the eardrum

Answer 35

myringitis, tympanitis

Question 36

inflammation of the middle ear

Answer 36

otitis media

Question 37

inflammation of the middle ear from changes in atmospheric pressure; often occurs with frequent air travel

Answer 37

aerotitis media

Question 38

blockage of the eustachian tube, usually as a result of infection, as in otitis media

Answer 38

eustachian obstruction

Question 39

hardening of the bony tissue in the ear

Answer 39

otosclerosis

Question 40

benign tumor on the auditory nerve (8th cranial nerve) that causes vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss

Answer 40

acoustic neuroma

Question 41

inflammation of the labyrinth (inner ear)

Answer 41

labyrinthitis

Question 42

disorder of the inner ear resulting from an excessive buildup of endolymphatic fluid, causing episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, and hearing loss; one or both ears can be affected, and attacks vary in both frequency and intensity

Answer 42

Meniere disease

Question 43

general term for partial or complete loss of hearing

Answer 43

deafness

Question 44

hearing impairment caused by interference with sound or vibratory energy in the external canal, middle ear, or ossicles

Answer 44

conductive hearing loss

Question 45

hearing impairment caused by lesions or dysfunction of the cochlea or auditory nerve

Answer 45

sensorineural hearing loss

Question 46

combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss

Answer 46

mixed hearing loss

Question 47

hearing impairment in old age

Answer 47

presbyacusis, presbycusis

Question 48

process of measuring hearing

Answer 48

audiometry

Question 49

instrument to measure hearing

Answer 49

audiometer

Question 50

record of hearing measurement

Answer 50

audiogram

Question 51

health professional who specializes in the study of hearing impairments

Answer 51

audiologist

Question 52

physical assessment of hearing; useful in differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 52

auditory acuity testing

Question 53

a two-pronged, fork-like instrument that vibrates when struck; used to test hearing, especially bond conduction

Answer 53

tuning fork

Question 54

electrodiagnostic testing that uses computerized equipment to measure involuntary responses to sound within the auditory nervous system; commonly used to assess hearing in newborns

Answer 54

brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER)

Question 55

use of an otoscope to examine the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane

Answer 55

otoscopy

Question 56

otoscopic observation of the tympanic membrane as air is released into the external auditory meatus; immobility indicates the presence of middle ear effusion (fluid buildup), as occurs as a result of otitis media

Answer 56

pneumatic otoscopy

Question 57

measurement of the compliance and mobility (conductibility) of the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the middle ear by monitoring the response to external airflow pressures

Answer 57

tympanometry

Question 58

surgery with the use of a microscope used on delicate tissue, such as the ear

Answer 58

microsurgery

Question 59

incision into the eardrum, most often for insertion of a small polyethylene (PE) tube to keep the canal open and prevent fluid buildup, such as occurs in otitis media

Answer 59

myringotomy, tympanostomy

Question 60

surgical repair of the external ear

Answer 60

otoplasty

Question 61

excision of the stapes to correct otosclerosis

Answer 61

stapedectomy

Question 62

vein graft of a scarred tympanic membrane to improve sound conduction

Answer 62

tympanoplasty

Question 63

any internal or external device that improves or substitutes for natural hearing

Answer 63

auditory prosthesis

Question 64

an external amplifying device designed to improve hearing by more effective collection of sound into the ear

Answer 64

hearing aid

Question 65

an electronic device implanted in the cochlea that provides sound perception to patients with sever or profound sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss in both ears

Answer 65

cochlear implant

Question 66

irrigation of the external ear canal, often to remove excessive buildup of cerumen

Answer 66

ear lavage

Question 67

introduction of a medicated solution into the external canal, usually administered by drop or drops in the affected ears

Answer 67

ear instillation

Question 68

drug that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms; used to treat diseases caused by bacteria (ex.: otitis media)

Answer 68

antibiotic

Question 69

drug that blocks the effects of histamine

Answer 69

antihistamine

Question 70

a regulatory body substance released in allergic reactions, causing swelling and inflammation of tissues; seen in hay fever and urticaria (hives)

Answer 70

histamine

Question 71

drug that reduces inflammation

Answer 71

antiinflammatory

Question 72

drug that reduces congestion and swelling of membranes, such as those of the nose and eustachian tube in an infection

Answer 72

decongestant