The Ear Flashcards

1
Q

what is the main osteological part of the ear?

A

pectoris temporal bone

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2
Q

what are the three parts of the human ear?

A
  • external ear
  • middle ear
  • internal ear
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3
Q

what is the function of the ear?

A

organ of hearing and balance

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4
Q

what makes up the external ear? what is the function?

A

Auricle & External Acoustic Meatus
- directs sound waves toward tympanic membrane/inner ear

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5
Q

what makes up the middle ear? what is their function?

A

Ossicles
- mechanically transmit sound

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6
Q

what part of the ear is connected to the nasopharynx?

A

The middle part of ear via the auditory tube

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7
Q

what is found within the internal ear? what is their function?

A

Semi-circular Canals
- motion

Cochlea
- hearing

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8
Q

how are mechanical signals conveyed by the ossicles transmitted?

A

via CNVIII (vestibulocochlear) towards brain

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9
Q

what is the visible part of the ear called?

A

auricle

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10
Q

what is the auricle composed of?

A

elastic cartilage

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11
Q

how long roughly is the external acoustic meatus?

A

2.5cm long

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12
Q

what is the lateral 1/3rd of the external acoustic meatus composed of?

A

cartilage

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13
Q

what is the medial 2/3rds of the external acoustic meatus composed of?

A

bone

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14
Q

what epithelium is found in the external ear?

A

stratified squamous epithelium

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15
Q

what is the located in the dermis of the external ear?

A
  • hair follicles
  • glands
  • ceruminous glands
  • blood vessels
  • nerves
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16
Q

what are ceruminous glands?

A

modified sweat glands that secrete ear wax

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17
Q

how is the tympanic membrane held within the temporal bone?

A

fibrocartilaginous ring

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18
Q

what is the tympanic membrane?

A

an oval, semitransparent structure situated between the external auditory meatus & the tympanic cavity of middle ear

19
Q

name the ossicles of the ear:

A
  • malleus
  • incus
  • stapes
20
Q

what is the function of the auditory tube?

A

connects middle ear with the nasopharynx and allows for pressure equalisation between the middle ear & atmospheric pressure

21
Q

why can respiratory infections sometimes cause problems with the ear?

A

the auditory tube is a potential route for the spread of infection from the nasopharynx to the ear

22
Q

where does the facial nerve enter the petrous temporal bone?

A

internal acoustic meatus

23
Q

what branches does the facial nerve give off during its course though the middle ear?

A
  • greater petrosal nerve
  • chorda tympani nerve
24
Q

what is the function of the greater petrosal nerve (that comes off of the facial nerve)?

A

carries parasympathetic fibres to the pterygopalatine ganglion to stimulate the parotid gland

25
Q

the roof of the middle ear is very thin, what clinical implication can this lead to?

A

any infections of the ear can spread into the cranial cavity

26
Q

what nerve runs along the upper portion of the tympanic membrane?

A

chorda tympani

27
Q

what is the clinical name for a middle ear infection?

A

otitis media

28
Q

what is otitis media with effusion?

A

ear infection that causes a build up of fluid in the middle ear behind the tympanic membrane

29
Q

how may otitis media with effusion be treated?

A

a grommet may be placed

30
Q

what can chronic infections of the middle ear lead to?

A
  • conductive deafness due to damage of the ossicles
  • mastoiditis
31
Q

if a patient requires surgery to the middle ear, why is this potentially dangerous?

A

close proximity to facial nerve

32
Q

what is the bony labyrinth?

A

the fluid filled space located around the otic capsule

33
Q

what part of the internal ear is concerned with hearing?

A

the cochlea

34
Q

what parts of the inner ear are concerned with balancing?

A
  • vestibule
  • semicircular canals
35
Q

what fluid is located in the bony labyrinth?

A

perilymph that contains endolymph

36
Q

what is the function of the vestibulocochlear nerve?

A

conveys the sensation of motion and hearing
- split into two parts

37
Q

what are the divisions of the vestibulocochlear nerve & their functions?

A

Cochlear part = hearing part
Vestibular part = equilibrium and balance

38
Q

what are the different types of hearing loss?

A
  • neural hearing loss
  • conductive hearing loss
39
Q

how can neural hearing loss occur?

A

damage to the cochlear part of CNVIII

40
Q

what can damage to the vestibular part of CNVIII cause?

A
  • ataxia
  • vertigo
  • nausea
    (bc its responsible for balance & equilibrium maintenance)
41
Q

what bone lies in the fenestra vestibuli?

A

the stapes

42
Q

what can be used to examine the tympanic membrane?

A

otoscope

43
Q

what may enlarged & tender lymph nodes indicate?

A

infection present

44
Q

what may hard, painless enlarged lymph nodes suggest?

A

malignancy