Chapter 13: Ear

Diagnostic Terms Built From Word Parts audiogram (AW-dē-ō-gram

(graphic) record of hearing (Fig. 13.6B)

Integrative Medicine Term

Music and sound therapy is the use of music or sounds within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. Music and sound therapy studies have shown promising clinical efficacy in the treatment of tinnitus and the rehabilitation of post-cochlear implant patients.

tinnitus

Note the spelling of tinnitus. The ending is itus and not itis, the ending most familiar to you, meaning inflammation

Balance is a function of the inner ear and is maintained through a series of complex processes. The vestibular nerve transmits information about motion and body position from the semicircular canals and the vestibule to the brain for interpretation.

The two functions of the ear are to hear and to provide the sense of balance. The ear is made up of three parts: the external ear , the middle ear , and the inner ear (Figs. 13.1 and 13.2). The process of hearing begins with the auricles directing sound waves into the external auditory canal. As the sound waves ripple through the external ear, the tympanic membrane vibrates. The ossicles in the middle ear carry the vibration to the inner ear, where the stimulus is transmitted by the cochlear nerve to the brain and is interpreted as sound. pg 503 diagram

HOH

hard of hearing

otosclerosis (ō-tō-skle-RŌ-sis)

hardening of the ear (stapes) (caused by irregular bone development and resulting in hearing loss)

Combining Forms of the Ear audi/o

hearing

presbycusis (prez-bi-KŪ-sis)

hearing impairment occurring with age

mastoidotomy (mas-toy-DOT-o-mē

incision into the mastoid bone

myringotomy (mir-ing-GOT-o-mē)

incision into the tympanic membrane (performed to relieve pressure in the middle ear by releasing pus or fluid and for the placement of tubes) (Exercise Figure A)

otomastoiditis (ō-tō-mas-toyd-Ī-tis)

inflammation of the ear and the mastoid bone

Disease and Disorder Terms Built From Word Parts labyrinthitis (lab-i-rin-THĪ-tis

inflammation of the labyrinth

mastoiditis (mas-toyd-Ī-tis

inflammation of the mastoid bone

otitis media (OM) (ō-TĪ-tis) (MĒ-dē-a)

inflammation of the middle ear (Fig. 13.3A)

otitis externa (ō-TĪ-tis) (eks-TER-na)

inflammation of the outer ear

myringitis (mir-in-JĪ-tis)

inflammation of the tympanic membrane (eardrum)

otoscope (Ō-tō-skōp)

instrument used for visual examination of the ear (Exercise Figure B)

audiometer (aw-dē-OM-e-ter)

instrument used to measure hearing (Fig. 13.6A)

tympanometer (tim-pa-NOM-e-ter)

instrument used to measure middle ear (function) (Exercise Figure C)

Stapes

is Latin for stirrup. The anatomic stapes was so named for its stirrup-like shape.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

is characterized by brief episodes of vertigo associated with a change in the position of the head, such as turning over in bed or sitting up in the morning. In BPPV, normal calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia break loose and shift within the labyrinth, triggering an episode of vertigo.

Tympanic Membrane

is derived from the Greek tympanon, meaning drum, because of its resemblance to a drum or tambourine.

labyrinth/o

labyrinth

mastoid/o

mastoid bone

audiometry (aw-dē-OM-e-trē

measurement of hearing

tympanometry (tim-pa-NOM-e-trē

measurement of middle ear (function)

tympan/o

middle ear

Complementary Terms Built From Word Parts audiologist (aw-dē-OL-o-jist

one who studies and specializes in hearing

Organs and Anatomic Structures of the Ear ear (ēr)

organ of hearing and balance; includes the external ear, middle ear, and labyrinth or inner ear

OM

otitis media

myring/o

tympanic membrane (eardrum

vestibul/o

vestibule

otoscopy (ō-TOS-ko-pē)

visual examination of the ear (Exercise Figure B)

Ménière disease (me-NYĀR) (di-ZĒZ)

chronic disease of the inner ear characterized by a sensation of spinning motion (vertigo), ringing in the ear (tinnitus), aural fullness, and fluctuating hearing loss; symptoms are related to a change in volume or composition of fluid within the labyrinth

cochle/o

cochlea

cochlea (KŌK-lē-ah)

coiled portion of the inner ear containing the sensory organ for hearing; connects to the oval window in the middle ear

external ear (ek-STER-nal) (ēr)

consists of the auricle and external auditory canal (meatus)

inner ear (IN-ar) (ēr)

consists of the labyrinth and connectors of the vestibular and the cochlear nerves

middle ear (MID-l) (ēr)

consists of the tympanic membrane and the tympanic cavity containing the ossicles

cholesteatoma (ko-le-stē-a-TŌ-ma)

cystlike mass composed of epithelial cells and cholesterol occurring in the middle ear; may be associated with chronic otitis media

otorrhea (ō-tō-RĒ-

discharge from the ear (may be serous, bloody, consisting of pus, or containing cerebrospinal fluid)

otopyorrhea (ō-tō-pī-ō-RĒ-a)

discharge of pus from the ear

aur/i, ot/o

ear

ENT

ears, nose, throat; otolaryngologist

labyrinthectomy (lab-i-rin-THEK-to-mē)

excision of the labyrinth

mastoidectomy (mas-toy-DEK-to-mē

excision of the mastoid bone

stapedectomy (stā-pe-DEK-to-mē)

excision of the stapes (performed to restore hearing in cases of otosclerosis; the stapes is replaced by a prosthesis) (Fig. 13.5)

auricle (AW-ri-kl)

external, visible part of the ear located on both sides of the head; directs sound waves into the external auditory canal. (also called pinna)

vertigo (VER-ti-gō)

sense that either one's own body (subjective vertigo) or the environment (objective vertigo) is revolving; may indicate inner ear disease

semicircular canals and vestibule (sem-ī-SUR-kū-lar) (kah-NALS), (VES-ti-būl

sensory organs of balance; contain receptors and endolymph that provide sensory information about the body's position to maintain equilibrium

external auditory canal (ek-STER-nal) (AW-di-tor-ē) (kah-NAL)

short tube that ends at the tympanic membrane. The inner part lies within the temporal bone of the skull and contains the glands that secrete earwax (cerumen). (also called external auditory meatus)

staped/o

stapes

audiology (aw-dē-OL-o-jē)

study of hearing

otology (ō-TOL-o-jē)

study of the ear (a branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the ear)

tympanoplasty (TIM-pa-nō-plas-tē

surgical repair (of the hearing mechanism) of the middle ear (including the tympanic membrane and the ossicles

myringoplasty (mi-RING-gō-plas-tē)

surgical repair of the tympanic membrane

otomycosis (ō-tō-mī-KŌ-sis)

abnormal condition of fungus in the ear (usually affects the external auditory canal)

AOM

acute otitis media

Disease and Disorder Terms Not Built From Word Parts acoustic neuroma (a-KOOS-tik) (nū-RŌ-ma

benign tumor within the internal auditory canal growing from the acoustic nerve (cochlear branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve); may cause hearing loss and may damage structures of the cerebellum as it grows

ossicles (OS-i-kalz)

bones of the middle ear that carry sound vibrations. The ossicles are composed of the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). The stapes connects to the oval window , which transmits the sound vibrations to the cochlea of the inner ear

labyrinth (LAB-e-rinth)

bony spaces within the temporal bone of the skull made up of three distinct parts, the cochlea, the semicircular canals, and the vestibule. The cochlea facilitates hearing. The semicircular canals and the vestibule facilitate equilibrium and balance.

otalgia (ō-TAL-ja)

pain in the ear

eustachian tube (yū-STĀ-shan) (toob)

passage between the middle ear and the pharynx; equalizes air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane

cochlear (KOK-lē-ar)

pertaining to the cochlea

Surgical Terms Built From Word Parts cochlear implant (KŌK-lē-ar) (IM-plant)

pertaining to the cochlea implant (surgically inserted electronic device that converts sound into electrical impulses. The impulses stimulate the auditory nerve to carry the signal to the brain which learns to interpret the signal as sound. The damaged part of the ear is bypassed.) (Fig. 13.4

aural (AW-rul)

pertaining to the ear

vestibular (ves-TIB-ū-lar)

pertaining to the vestibule

vestibulocochlear (ves-tib-ū-lō-KOK-lē-ar

pertaining to the vestibule and the cochlea

otologist (ō-TOL-o-jist)

physician who studies and treats diseases of the ear

otolaryngologist (ENT) (ō-tō-lar-ing-GOL-o-jist)

physician who studies and treats diseases of the ear, (nose), and larynx (throat)

mastoid bone (MAS-toid) (bōn)

portion of the temporal bone of the skull posterior and inferior to each auditory canal; contains mastoid air cells that drain into the middle ear cavity behind the external auditory canal. (also called mastoid process)

electrocochleography (ē-lek-trō-kok-lē-OG-ra-fē)

process of recording the electrical activity in the cochlea (in response to sound

tinnitus (tin-NĪ-tus)

ringing in the ears

tympanic membrane (tim-PAN-ik) (MEM-brān)

semitransparent membrane that separates the external auditory canal and the middle ear cavity. The tympanic membrane transmits sound vibrations to the ossicles. (also called eardrum)