clinical correlations (II)

recurrent laryngeal nerve damage

injury may cause weakness/loss of voice - caused by trauma, surgery, and neck/thoracic lesions - left recurrent laryngeal nerve is more prone to damage

cataracts

lens of the eye becomes progressively cloudy, causes decrease in vision - cataract surgery = removal of cloudy lens and replacement with an artificial one

chalazion

cyst like structure due to plugged tarsal gland

mastoiditis

presents as pain, swelling and redness posterior to the ear - middle ear infection can spread into mastoid antrum and air cells

glaucoma

group of conditions that results in damage to optic nerve and vision loss - most important risk factor = ocular hypertension (increased intraocular pressure)

anterior epistaxis

(nosebleed) - Kiesselbach's plexus is the source for 90% of nosebleeds

orbital blowout fracture

- blunt trauma by something larger than the orbital rim - infraorbital nerve damage may occur resulting in loss of sensation to areas it innervates

ptosis

- drooping of the eyelid - commonly due to paralysis/paresis of elevator palpebrae superioris

danger triangle of the face

- formed by corners of mouth and bridge of the nose - infection can spread from facial vein to the cavernous sinus via ophthalmic veins - risk of cavernous sinus thrombosis

sinusitis

- inflammation of mucosa that lines paranasal sinuses - symptoms: headache, toothache, and nasal discharge - many possible routes for infection to spread to and from sinuses

deficits of eye movements

- medial and lateral recti muscles have relatively pure movements = if paralyzed their direction actions would go greatly hindered

dislocation of TMJ

- most vulnerable when the mandible is in complete depression - most commonly the head of the mandible dislocates anterior to articular tubercle

conjunctivitis

- pink eye - inflammation of the conjunctiva - caused by infection, allergic reaction or exposure to irritants

corneal reflex

gentle irritation of the cornea elicits a blinking response - used to test nasociliary nerve and temporal/zygomatic branches of facial nerve

stye

infection of glands of Moll or glands of Zeis - small bumps consisting of pus, water and bacteria

adenoids

pharyngeal tonsils often hypertrophies in childhood infections - can impede normal passage of air - adenoidectomy = surgical removal of adenoids