Otorhinolaryngology vocabulary

Question 1

acoustic neuroma

neur/o = nerve
-oma = tumor

Answer 1

benign tumor of the cochlear nerve sheath; symptoms include tinnitus, headache, vertigo, and progressive hearing loss

Question 2

American Sign Language (ASL)

Answer 2

nonverbal method of communicating in which the hands and fingers are used to indicate words and concepts; used by people with hearing impairment and/or speech impairment

Question 3

antiemetic drugs

anti- = against
-emetic = pertaining to vomiting

Answer 3

medications used to treat the nausea associated with vertigo

Question 4

cochlear implant

cochle/o = cochlea
-ar = pertaining to

Answer 4

hearing device surgically placed under the skin behind the ear; converts sound signals into electrical impulses to stimulate the cochlear nerve

Question 5

croup

Answer 5

acute respiratory condition common in infants and children; symptoms include a barking cough

Question 6

deafness

Answer 6

inability to hear or having some degree of hearing impairment

Question 7

decongestant

de- = without

Answer 7

medication to reduce nasal and sinus stuffiness and congestion

Question 8

diphtheria

Answer 8

bacterial upper respiratory infection; characterized by formation of thick membranous film across the throat and high mortality rate; uncommon now due to diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) vaccine

Question 9

endotracheal (ET) intubation

endo- = within
trache/o = trachea
-al = pertaining to

Answer 9

inserting tube through the mouth and into the trachea; creates an open upper respiratory airway

Question 10

epistaxis

Answer 10

nosebleed

Question 11

falling test

Answer 11

group of tests to evaluate balance and equilibrium; for example, balancing on one foot, heel-toe walking, and walking forward with eyes open; test is repeated with the patient’s eyes closed; swaying and falling with eyes closed can indicate an equilibrium malfunction

Question 12

hearing aid

Answer 12

device used by persons with impaired hearing to amplify sound; also called an amplification device

Question 13

Meniere’s disease

Answer 13

acute or chronic inner ear condition; can lead to a progressive hearing loss; symptoms include vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus

Question 14

nasal cannula

nas/o = nose
-al = pertaining to

Answer 14

two-pronged plastic device for delivering oxygen directly into the nose; one prong is inserted into each naris

Question 15

otitis externa (OE)

ot/o = ear
-itis = inflammation

Answer 15

external ear infection; frequently caused by fungus; also called otomycosis; common name is swimmer’s ear

Question 16

otitis internal (OI)

ot/o = ear
-itis = inflammation

Answer 16

inflammation of the inner ear; can affect both hearing and equilibrium; also called inner ear infection

Question 17

otitis media (OM)

ot/o = ear
-itis = inflammation

Answer 17

bacterial or viral infection of the middle ear; common in children; often preceded by an upper respiratory infection during which pathogens move from the pharynx to the middle ear through the auditory tube; commonly referred to as a middle ear infection

Question 18

pertussis

Answer 18

bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract; uncommon now due to DPT vaccine; commonly called whooping cough due to the “whoop” sound made when coughing

Question 19

pressure-equalizing tube (PE tube)

Answer 19

small tube surgically placed in the eardrum; assists in draining trapped fluid and equalizing pressure between the middle ear cavity and the atmosphere

Question 20

Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests

Answer 20

tests to assess both the function of the cochlear nerve and the ability of ear structures to conduct sound waves to the inner ear; physician holds a tuning fork against or near the bones on the side of the patient’s head

Question 21

tinnitus

Answer 21

ringing in the ears

Question 22

vertigo

Answer 22

sensation of spinning or whirling around; incorrectly used to mean dizziness

Question 23

wax emulsifiers

Answer 23

medication used to soften earwax and prevent its buildup in the outer ear canal