ear Flashcards

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1
Q

3 major sections of the ear

A

Outer or external ear.
Middle ear or tympanic cavity.
Inner ear or labyrinth.
Each section transmits sounds differently.

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2
Q

external ear

A
Conducts sound waves through air.
Includes:
Auricle (or pinna) .
External  auditory canal (or ear canal).
Cerumen.
Tympanic membrane (or eardrum).
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3
Q

auricle (pinna)

A

Collects waves traveling through air.

Channels sound waves to the external auditory canal.

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4
Q

external auditory canal

A

Slender tube lined with glands that produce a waxy secretion called cerumen.

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5
Q

cerumen

A

Sticky secretion that traps tiny foreign particles.

Prevents particles from entering deeper areas of the canal.

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6
Q

tympanic membrane

A

Flat, membranous structure drawn over the end of the ear canal.
Sound waves strike the TM, causing it to vibrate.
Movement of the TM causes movement of the three smallest bones of the body, collectively called the ossicles.

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7
Q

middle ear

A

Conducts sound waves through bone.
Includes:
Eustachian Tube
Ossicles: Three smallest bones of the body: Malleus ,Incus, Stapes
Located in the tympanic cavity.
Form a coupling between the TM and the cochlea.
These 3 bones articulate sound.

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8
Q

eustachian tube

A

Connects the middle ear to the pharynx.
Equalizes pressure on the outer and inner surfaces of the eardrum (TM).
When sudden pressure changes, pressure can be equalized on either side of the tympanic membrane by deliberate swallowing.

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9
Q

malleus

A

Aka: Hammer.
Attached to the TM.
Articulates with the incus.

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10
Q

incus

A

Aka: Anvil.

Located between the malleus and the stapes.

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11
Q

stapes

A

Aka: Stirrups.
Attached to the oval window of the cochlea.
Articulates with the incus.

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12
Q

inner ear

A
Conducts sound waves through fluid.
Includes:
Cochlea.
Also includes the structures for equilibrium:
Semicircular canals.
Vestibule.
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13
Q

cochlea

A

Snail-shaped structure.
Filled with fluid called perilymph.
Inner surface lined with highly sensitive hearing structures called the organ of Corti.
Organ of Corti contain tiny nerve endings called hair cells.
Movement of the ossicles causes the stapes to exert a gentle pumping action against the oval window.
Pumping action forces the perilymph to disturb the hair cells.
Generates impulses that are transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve.
Brain interprets impulses as sound.

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14
Q

equilibrium: inner ear (Labyrinth)

A

Located in the inner ear.

Consists of a system of fluid-filled tubes and sacs; as well as nerves that connect these structures to the brain.

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15
Q

equilibirum

A

Labyrinth located inside the bone of the skull.

Includes: Cochlea and the vestibular system (includes the vestibule and the semicircular canals).

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16
Q

equilibrium: vestibular system

A

Controls balance, posture, orientation, body response to movement and eye movement.
Contains: Semicircular canals and the vestibule.
Vestibule joins the cochlea and semicircular canals.

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17
Q

otitis media

A

Inflammation or infection of any part of the outer, middle, or inner ear.
Otitis media (middle ear) is the most common.
Inflammation begins when infections that cause sore throats, colds or other respiratory or breathing problems spread to the middle ear.
Can be bacterial or viral.
Most commonly found in children.

18
Q

symptoms of otitis media

A
Pain in ear.
Child may tug or pull one or both ears.
Unusual irritability.
Difficulty sleeping.
Fever.
Fluid draining from the ear.
Loss of balance.
Difficulty hearing.
19
Q

treatment of otitis media

A

Antibiotics.
Pain and fever reducing medications.
Decongestants.
Antihistamines.
Tonsil and adenoid removal for frequent sufferers.
Pressure-equalizing (PE) tubes surgically implanted through the TM, for frequent sufferers. PE tubes remain in ear about 9-months, and then fall out. If not, surgically removed by age 5-6.

20
Q

prevention of otitis media

A

Do not expose children to second hand smoke.
Avoid sick playmates.
Nursing infants have lower incidence of OM.
Have infant in upright position for bottle feeding.
Use of decongestants and antihistamines , prophylactically.

21
Q

tinnitus

A

Perception of ringing, hissing, or other sounds in the ears or head when no external sound is present.
A symptom associated with many forms of hearing loss.
People with severe cases may find difficulty in hearing, working and sleeping.

possible causes
Hearing loss.
Too much exposure to loud noises.
Medicine: More than 200 medicines (i.e.: large doses ASA) can cause tinnitus.
Blow to the head.
Health problems: Allergies, tumours, impacted wax, anaemia, hypertension, stress, neck and jaw problems.

22
Q

treatment for tinnitus

A
No cure.
Symptomatic relief only.
Hearing aids.
Maskers.
Medicine or drug therapy:  Antiarrhythmics and antidepressants.
23
Q

vertigo

A

Hallucination of movement, or a feeling of spinning or dizziness.
Loss of balance.
May lead to nausea and vomiting.

possiblle causes
Variety of disorders.
Ménière’s disease.
Lesion or other process affecting the brain, or eighth cranial nerve.
Labyrinthitis.
24
Q

treatment for vertigo

A
No cure.
Symptomatic relief only.
Antihistamines.
Antibiotics.
Dietary changes.
Stress management.
25
Q

meniere’s disease

A

Abnormality of the inner ear causing many symptoms: Vertigo, severe dizziness, tinnitus, fluctuating hearing loss, sensation of pressure or pain in the affected ear.
Loss of balance.
May lead to nausea and vomiting.

26
Q

symptoms of menieres

A
Can occur suddenly and arise daily, or as infrequently as once a year.
Occurs without warning.
Vertigo, severe dizziness.
Nausea, vomiting.
Sweating.
Tinnitus.
Hearing loss.
Headache.
Abdominal discomfort.
Diarrhea.
Attacks may last for minutes or hours.
possible causes
Symptoms associated with a change in fluid volume within the labyrinth portion of the inner ear.
Head injury.
Rupture of the membranous labyrinth.
Noise pollution.
Viral infections.
27
Q

treatment for menieres

A

No cure.
Symptomatic relief only.
Antihistamines.
Antibiotics.
Dietary changes to reduce fluid retention in the body.
Stress management.
Labyrinthectomy – controls vertigo, but leads to hearing loss.

28
Q

otosclerosis

A
Abnormal hardening (ankylosis) of bones of the middle ear that causes hearing loss.
Ossicle most commonly affected is the stapes.
29
Q

symptoms of otosclerosis

A

Progressive hearing loss, especially of low tones.
Tinnitus.
Dizziness.
Vertigo

possible causes
genetics

30
Q

treatment for otosclerosis

A

Surgical correction: Removing part of the stapes, (a stapedectomy, or commonly, a stapedotomy) and implantation of a prosthetic device that allows sound waves to pass to the inner ear.

31
Q

dextra

A

right

32
Q

sinistra

A

left

33
Q

pertaining to the ear

A

auricular

34
Q

Rinne test

A

test using a turning fork to measure hearing by comparing results of bone conducting and air conduction

35
Q

salping/o

A

root word for Eustachian tube

36
Q

pathway of sound

A

malleus, incus, stapes, cochlea

37
Q

which part of the ear contains cerumen

A

external auditory canal

38
Q

posterior portion of cornea

A

sclera

39
Q

Weber test

A

test that assesses bone conduction of sound in the ear

40
Q

semicircular canals

A

fluid filled loops in the labyrinth that gives the body sense of balance

41
Q

otitis media

A

ear infection (inflammation of the ear)