Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

ESA 3 - Head and Neck > The Ear > Flashcards

The Ear Flashcards

1
Q

What are some symptoms and signs people with ear problems could present with?

A 
Otalgia (ear pain)
Discharge 
Hearing loss 
Tinnitus
Vertigo - illusion of room moving 
Facial nerve palsy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What nerves carry sensory information from the ear?

A 
branches of: 
-Cervical spinal nerves 
-Vagus
-Trigeminal (auriculotemporal)
-Glossopharyngeal (tympanic) 
Smal contribution from CN VII (Facial)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What should you think about if a patient has otalgia with a normal ear?

A

Referred pain.
It could be a red flag for symptoms elsewhere e.g. pharynx / larynx cancer if referred pain is caused by the vagus nerve.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the pinna?

A

Bit of the ear thats sticks out.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is Ramsey-Hunt syndrome?

A

Shingles of the facial nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a pinna haematoma?

A

This is the accumulation of blood between cartilage and its overlying perichondrium.

It usually occurs secondary to blunt injury to the pinna - common in contact sports.

Subperichondrial haematoma deprives cartilage of its blood supply and pressure of necrosis of tissue.

Prompt drainage and measures to prevent re-accumulation / re-apposition of two layers.

If not treated properly, get a cauliflower ear. - This is fibrosis and asymmetrical cartilage development.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the external acoustic meatus?

A

Skin-lined cul-de-sac around 2.5cm in length.

Lined with keratinising, stratified squamous epithelium continuous onto lateral surface of tympanic membrane.

Cartilaginous (outer 1/3) and bony (inner 2/3)

Sigmoid shape.

Hair, sebaceous glads and ceruminous glands (produce wax) line cartilage part: barrier to foreign objects.

Bony part lacks these glands and hairs.

Desquamation and skin migration out of canal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What common conditions involve the external acoustic meatus?

A

Wax

Otitis externa - external ear swelling. Can be bacterial or fungal. Symptoms: Painful, swollen and discharge. Treat with antibiotics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are some common abnormalities of the tympanic membrane?

A

Perforation

Bulging secondary to otitis media (common - swelling of middle ear) - This can cause perforation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the middle cavity?

A

Air filled cavity between Tympanic membrane and inner ear containing ossicles (Malleus, Incus, Stapes) which are connected via synovial joints.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does the middle ear do?

A

Amplify and relay vibration from tympanic membrane to the oval window of the cochlea (inner ear). They transmit them in a fluid-medium.

Movement is ‘tampered’ by two muscles: tensor tympani and stapedius -muscles contract if potentially excessive vibration due to loud noise (protective; acoustic reflex)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is Otoscleosis?

A

One of the most common causes of acquired hearing loss in young adults.

Both genetic and environmental causes but exact cause is unknown.

It is when the ossicles fuse at articulations due to abnormal bone growth particularly between base plate of stapes and oval window. -Sound vibrations cannot be transmitted effectively to cochlea.

The patient with gradual unilateral or bilateral conductive hearing loss.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How does pressure in the middle ear equilibrate when the mucous membrane of middle ear continuously reabsorbs air in middle ear causing negative pressure?

A

Eustachian tube allows equilibration of pressure within middle ear cavity with that of the atmosphere. It also allows for ventilation of and drainage of mucus from the middle ear.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is cholesteatoma?

A

Sac of trapped epithelial cells that proliferate and erode.

Retraction of an area of pars flaccida (TM) forms a sac / pocket

  • Trapping epithelial cells
  • Prolifrate forming cholesteatoma.

Usually secondary to chronic eustatian tube dysfunction as the negative pressures pull the ‘pocket’ into the middle ear.

Painless, often smell otorrhea (discharge) +/- hearing loss.

Not malignant but slowly grows and expands potentially causing more serious consequences due to enzymatic body destruction e.g. erode ossicles, mastoid / petrous bone, cochlea.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is Otitis media with effusion?

A

Glue ear

  • Not an infection
  • Build up of fluid and negative pressure in middle ear.
  • Due to eusachian tube dysfunction: can predispose to infection
  • Decreases mobility of TM and ossicles - affecting hearing
  • Most resolve spontaneously within 2-3 months but some may persist and require grommets (tympanostomy tube) to maintain equilibration of pressures.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is acute otitis media?

A

Acute middle ear infection
More common in infants / children than adults

Signs and symptoms:

  • Otalgia
  • Other non-specific symptoms
  • Red +/- bulging TM and loss of normal landmarks
17
Q

Why Otitis media more common in children?

A

Because the Eustachian tube is shorter and more horizontal in infants so:

  • There is an easier passage for infection from the nasopharynx to the middle ear
  • Tubes can block more easily, compromising ventilation and drainage of middle ear, increasing risk of middle ear infection.
18
Q

What are the possible complications of acute otitis media?

A

Tympanic membrane perforation

Facial nerve involvement

More dangerous:
Mastoiditis

Intracranial complications:

  • Meningitis
  • Sigmoid sinus thrombosis
  • Brain abscess
19
Q

What is mastoiditis?

A

An inflammation of the mucosal lining of the mastoid antrum and mastoid air cell system inside the mastoid process.

This is a complication because the middle ear cavity communicates via mastoid antrum with mastoid air cells which then provides a route for middle ear infections to spread into the mastoid bone.

20
Q

What is the inner ear?

A

The vestibular apparatus and cochlea: fluid fulled tubes.

The cochlea converts vibrations into an electrical signal (action potential) which is perceived as sound.

The vestibular apparatus is involved in maintaining out sense of position and balance.

21
Q

What is the cochlea?

A

Fluid filled tube with specialised hair cells that generate action potentials when moved.

22
Q

What does the cochlea do?

A

Movements at the oval window set up movements of the fluid in the cochlea.
Waves of fluid cause movement of special sensory cells (stereocilia) within the cochlea duct which generate action potentials in CN VIII.

If this doesnt work, we get sensorineural hearing loss.

23
Q

How do we hear?

A

Auricle and external canal focuses and funnels sound waves towards tympanic membrane which vibrates.

Vibration of the ossicles (stapes at oval window) set up vibrations / movement in cochlea fluid.

Sensed by stereo cilia (nerve cells) in the cochlear duct (in the spiral organ of corti).

Movement of the stereo cilia in the organ of Corti trigger action potentials in cochlea part of CN VIII.

Primary auditory cortex makes sense of the input.

24
Q

What is the vestibular apparatus?

A

Fluid filled tubes with specialised hair cells that generate action potentials when moved.

It includes the semicircular ducts, the saccule and utricle. These are fluid-filled tubes or sacs containing stereocilia.

25
Q

What does the vestibular apparatus do?

A

Perceives and maintains our sense of balance.

26
Q

What is BPPV?

A

Most common cause for vertigo. It is when you feel like the room is spinning. It Comes in spurts when moving head. Hearing is fine. Caused by crystals in Vestibular apparatus

27
Q

What is Ménière’s disease?

A

Too much fluid in inner ear. Tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss - last for hours and persistent.

28
Q

WHat is Labrynthiits?

A

infection of inner ear (viral) - acute persistent vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss. History of recent viral infection.

29
Q

What structures have an important anatomical relationship with the ear?

A 
Brain
Internal carotid artery
Sigmoid sinus
Mastoid cells
Tympanic cavity
Pharyngotympanic (auditory) tube
30
Q

What nerve has an important relationship with the middle ear?

A

Facial nerve.

This is important as the facial nerve and its branches may be involved in middle ear pathologies.

31
Q

What is Weber’s test?

A

This is when you get a tuning fork and place it in the middle of the forehead. You then ask the patient if it is louder on either side. It should be the same on both sides.

If it is louder on one side, this means that have a conducting problem on the side it is louder or a sensorineural problem on the side where it is quieter.

32
Q

What is Rinne’s test?

A

This is when you place a tuning fork infront of their ear and then on a bony prominence behind the ear.

If it is normal or sensorineural hearing loss then you will get a positive Rinne’s test where air is louder than bone.

If it is louder when placed on the bony prominence then it is a conductive problem.

33
Q

When do you get conductive hearing loss?

A

When there is pathology involving the external or middle ear. For example:

  • Wax
  • Acute otitis media
  • Otitis Media with effusion (glue ear)
  • Otosclerosis
34
Q

When do you get sensorineural hearing loss?

A

Pathology involving thinner ear structures or CN VIII. For example:

  • Presbyacusis
  • Noise-related hearing loss
  • Meniere’s Disease
  • Ototoxic medication
  • Acoustic neuroma

ESA 3 - Head and Neck (20 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions