Ear Flashcards
what is an auricular hematoma?
bleeding within the auricle - localized collection of blood forms b/w the perichondrium and auricular cartilage, causing distortion of contours of auricle
what cause cauliflower or boxer’s ear?
untreated hematoma -> fibrosis develops in overlying skin, forming a deformed auricle
how do you straighten the external acoustic meatus in adults vs. infants?
adults: pulled posterosuperiorly
infants: pulled inferoposteriorly
what is normally visible through an otoscope? (healthy ear)
- translucent, pearly gray tympanic membrane
- handle of malleus (umbo)
- light reflex (cone of light from inferior end of handle going anteroinferiorly)
what is otitis externa?
inflammation of the external acoustic meatus
what is otitis media?
infection/inflammation of middle ear
what is otitis media often secondary to?
upper respiratory infections
what can ruptured eardrum cause?
one of the many causes of middle ear deafness
what is myringotomy?
incisions to release pus from a middle ear abscess
where are incisions made in myringotomy and why?
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
what is sometimes done along w/ myringotomy in people with chronic ear infections?
tympanostomy/pressure-equalization tubes in the incision to enable drainage of effusion and ventilation of pressure
what is mastoiditis?
infections of mastoid antrum and mastoid cells
what causes mastoiditis?
middle ear infections that cause inflammation of the mastoid process
where can mastoiditis infections spread?
superiorly into middle cranial fossa through petrosquamous fissure -> cause osteomyelitis (bone infection) of tegmen tympani
what happens when the pharyngotympanic (auditory) tube is blocked?
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
what does paralysis of the stapedius cause?
excessive acuteness of hearing (hyperacusis, hyperacusia) -> uninhibited movements of stapes
what causes motion sickness?
discordance b/w vestibular and visual stimulation
three major symptoms of injury to the peripheral auditory system
- hearing loss (usually conductive)
- vertigo (dizziness)
- tinnitus (buzzing or ringing)
two types of hearing loss
conductive and sensorineural
conductive hearing loss
- 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
sensorineural hearing loss
- defects in pathway from cochlea to brain
- improved w/ cochlear implants
what is Meniere syndrome?
- 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
what causes high tone deafness?
persistent exposure to excessively loud sounds causing degenerative changes in the spiral organ
what is otic barotrauma?
injury caused by am imbalance in pressure b/w ambient air and air in middle ear
-usually occurs in fliers and divers
