Ear

Question 1

what is an auricular hematoma?

Answer 1

bleeding within the auricle - localized collection of blood forms b/w the perichondrium and auricular cartilage, causing distortion of contours of auricle

Question 2

what cause cauliflower or boxer’s ear?

Answer 2

untreated hematoma -> fibrosis develops in overlying skin, forming a deformed auricle

Question 3

how do you straighten the external acoustic meatus in adults vs. infants?

Answer 3

adults: pulled posterosuperiorly
infants: pulled inferoposteriorly

Question 4

what is normally visible through an otoscope? (healthy ear)

Answer 4

• translucent, pearly gray tympanic membrane
• handle of malleus (umbo)
• light reflex (cone of light from inferior end of handle going anteroinferiorly)

Question 5

what is otitis externa?

Answer 5

inflammation of the external acoustic meatus

Question 6

what is otitis media?

Answer 6

infection/inflammation of middle ear

Question 7

what is otitis media often secondary to?

Answer 7

upper respiratory infections

Question 8

what can ruptured eardrum cause?

Answer 8

one of the many causes of middle ear deafness

Question 9

what is myringotomy?

Answer 9

incisions to release pus from a middle ear abscess

Question 10

where are incisions made in myringotomy and why?

Answer 10

posteroinferiorly through the membrane b/c :

• superior 1/2 of membrane is more vascular than inferior 1/2
• to avoid injury to chorda tympani and auditory ossicles

Question 11

what is sometimes done along w/ myringotomy in people with chronic ear infections?

Answer 11

tympanostomy/pressure-equalization tubes in the incision to enable drainage of effusion and ventilation of pressure

Question 12

what is mastoiditis?

Answer 12

infections of mastoid antrum and mastoid cells

Question 13

what causes mastoiditis?

Answer 13

middle ear infections that cause inflammation of the mastoid process

Question 14

where can mastoiditis infections spread?

Answer 14

superiorly into middle cranial fossa through petrosquamous fissure -> cause osteomyelitis (bone infection) of tegmen tympani

Question 15

what happens when the pharyngotympanic (auditory) tube is blocked?

Answer 15

residual air in tympanic cavity usually absorbed into mucosal blood vessels -> lower pressure in tympanic cavity, retraction of tympanic membrane, interference w/ its free movement -> can affect hearing

Question 16

what does paralysis of the stapedius cause?

Answer 16

excessive acuteness of hearing (hyperacusis, hyperacusia) -> uninhibited movements of stapes

Question 17

what causes motion sickness?

Answer 17

discordance b/w vestibular and visual stimulation

Question 18

three major symptoms of injury to the peripheral auditory system

Answer 18

1. hearing loss (usually conductive)
2. vertigo (dizziness)
3. tinnitus (buzzing or ringing)

Question 19

two types of hearing loss

Answer 19

conductive and sensorineural

Question 20

conductive hearing loss

Answer 20

• from anything in external or middle ear that interferes w/ conduction of sound or movement of oval/round windows
• people talk softly
• can be improved surgically or w/ a hearing device

Question 21

sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 21

• defects in pathway from cochlea to brain

- improved w/ cochlear implants

Question 22

what is Meniere syndrome?

Answer 22

• excess endolymph production or blockage of the endolymphatic duct
• recurrent attacks of tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo + sense of pressure in ear, distorted sounds, noise sensitivity
• ballooning of cochlear duct, utricle, saccule

Question 23

what causes high tone deafness?

Answer 23

persistent exposure to excessively loud sounds causing degenerative changes in the spiral organ

Question 24

what is otic barotrauma?

Answer 24

injury caused by am imbalance in pressure b/w ambient air and air in middle ear
-usually occurs in fliers and divers