1. Chapter 11 Special Senses—Ears
PowerPoint Lecture Notes to Accompany Medical Terminology Simplified, Fifth Edition
Barbara A. Gylys ∙ Regina M. Masters 1

2. Introduction

3. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Structure
Each ear has three main subdivisions.
External ear
Middle ear
Inner ear 3

4. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Define Combining Forms
ot/o:
myring/o, tympan/o:
labyrinth/o:

5. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Define Combining Forms
ot/o: ear
myring/o, tympan/o: tympanic membrane
labyrinth/o: labyrinth (inner ear)

6. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Define Combining Forms
hearing:
mastoid/o:
salping/o:

7. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Define Combining Forms
hearing: acous/o, audi/o, audit/o
mastoid/o: mastoid process
salping/o: tubes (usually fallopian or eustachian [auditory])

8. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Define Suffixes
-acusis:
-opsia:
-stenosis:
-tropia:

9. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Define Suffixes
-acusis: hearing
-opsia: vision
-stenosis: narrowing, stricture
-tropia: turning

10. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
discharge from the ear: /o/
specialist in the study of ear and throat (disorders): /o/laryng/o/
rupture of the eardrum: tympan/o/ 10

11. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
discharge from the ear: ot/o/rrhea
specialist in the study of ear and throat (disorders): ot/o/laryng/o/logist
rupture of the eardrum: tympan/o/rrhexis
Pedagogical Note: For instructors who do not require A&P coverage, delete slides to suit your individual needs. For those who prefer to expand the slide presentation, an image bank is available at the DavisPlus instructor website. 11

13. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
discharge or flow of pus from the ear: / / / /rrhea
without or not hearing (deafness): an/
pain in the ear: /o/ 13

14. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
discharge or flow of pus from the ear: otopyorrhea
without or not hearing (deafness): an/acusia or an/acusis
pain in the ear: ot/o/dynia 14

15. Audiologist: Specialist who fits people for hearing aids

16. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
inflammation of the ear:
instrument to examine the ear(s):
inflammation of the mastoid process: 16 16

17. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
inflammation of the ear: ot/itis
instrument to examine the ear(s): ot/o/scope
inflammation of the mastoid process: mastoid/itis 17 17

19. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
incision of the labyrinth (inner ear):
hearing (loss) due to old age:
instrument to measure hearing: 19 19

20. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
incision of the labyrinth (inner ear): labyrinth/o/tomy
hearing (loss) due to old age: presby/cusis, presby/acusia
instrument to measure hearing: audi/o/meter 20 20

22. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Otitis Media
Signs and Symptoms
Most common symptom is an earache.
Accumulation of fluid within the structure of the middle ear.
Most common among infants and young children.
Chronic form of serous otitis media may develop from acute condition, or it may result from overgrowth of adenoidal tissue or chronic sinus infections. 22

23. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Otitis Media
Signs and Symptoms (continued)
Suppurative otitis media is caused by introduction of pyogenic microorganisms into the middle ear.
Often follow the mumps, influenza, or colds and may be induced by overly forceful nose blowing.
Swimming in contaminated water may result in a middle ear infection.
If pus forms in the tympanic cavity, the eardrum may rupture, thereby relieving pressure and pain. 23

24. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Otitis Media
Treatment
Antibiotics and analgesics to relieve pain.
In severe cases, drainage may be accomplished by myringotomy or needle aspiration.
Surgery, such as myringoplasty and tympanoplasty to repair a ruptured tympanic membrane.
Pressure-equalizing (PE) tubes are inserted surgically into the tympanic membrane to equalize pressure between the atmosphere and the middle ear. 24

26. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Hearing Loss
Signs and Symptoms
Temporary or permanent loss of hearing.
Treatment
Varies with type and cause of impairment.
May include medication to treat infections and dissolve cerumen.
Stapedectomy, tympanoplasty, cochlear implant, and myringotomy.
Hearing aids or other effective means of aiding communication. 26

27. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Vocabulary Challenge Exercise
conductive hearing loss:
Ménière disease:
otosclerosis: 27

28. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Vocabulary Challenge Exercise
conductive hearing loss: hearing loss due to an impairment in the transmission of sound because of an obstruction of the ear canal or damage to the eardrum or ossicles
Ménière disease: rare disorder of unknown etiology within the labyrinth of the inner ear that can lead to progressive loss of hearing
otosclerosis: progressive deafness due to ossification in the bony labyrinth of the inner ear 28

30. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Vocabulary Challenge Exercise
presbycusis:
tinnitus:
vertigo: 30

31. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Vocabulary Challenge Exercise
presbycusis: impairment of hearing that results from the aging process
tinnitus: ringing or tinkling noise heard constantly or intermittently in one or both ears, even in a quiet environment
vertigo: sensation of moving around in space or a feeling of dizziness or spinning 31

32. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Diagnostic Procedures
Tuning fork test
Evaluation of sound conduction using a vibrating tuning fork.
Rinne evaluates bone versus air conduction of sound.
Rinne test. (A) Bone conduction.
(B) Air conduction.

33. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Diagnostic Procedures
Tuning fork test (continued)
Webber evaluates bone conduction in both ears at same time.
Indication of normal hearing is when sound is heard equally in both ears.
Webber test. Vibrating tuning fork is placed on center of head or forehead.

34. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Diagnostic Procedures
Audiometry
Test that measures hearing acuity at various sound-wave frequencies.
Audiometer delivers acoustic stimuli at different frequencies.
Results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram. 34

35. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Diagnostic Procedures
Otoscopy
Visual examination of external auditory canal and tympanic membrane using an otoscope.
Assesses ability of tympanic membrane to move in response to a change in air pressure.
Lack of movement indicates increased impedance or eardrum perforation.
Pedagogical Note: You may want to bring a few diagnostic instruments or laboratory set-ups for students to examine. Various images of medical instruments are available on the Web if you do not have the actual instruments. In addition, other diagnostic procedures can be included to suit individual classroom needs. 35

36. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
act of measuring hearing:
surgical repair of the tympanic membrane (eardrum):
surgical repair of the ear: 36

37. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
act of measuring hearing: audi/o/metry
surgical repair of the tympanic membrane (eardrum): tympan/o/plasty or myring/o/plasty
surgical repair of the ear: ot/o/plasty 37

38. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
abnormal condition of ear hardening:
without hearing:
discharge or flow from the ear(s): 38

39. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Build Medical Words
abnormal condition of ear hardening: ot/o/sclerosis
without hearing: an/acusis
discharge or flow from the ear(s): ot/o/rrhea 39

40. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Medical and Surgical Procedures
Ear irrigation
Flushing of the external ear canal with sterile water or sterile saline.
Low-pressure stream of warm water is directed toward top of ear canal to flush out impacted cerumen or foreign body.
Ear irrigation. (A) Child. (B) Adult. 40

41. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Medical and Surgical Procedures
Myringotomy
Incision of tympanic membrane followed by insertion of a PE tube.
Used to treat chronic otitis media.
Placement of PE tube 41

42. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Medical and Surgical Procedures
Cochlear implants
All implants feature a microelectronic processor for converting sound to electrical signals.
Transmission system relays signals to the implanted parts.
Long, slender electrode placed in cochlea delivers the electrical stimuli directly to the auditory nerve. 42

43. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Joe is diagnosed with an ear infection and is scheduled for surgery. An incision will be made into the ear followed by insertion of pressure-equalizing tubes. Incision of the eardrum is charted as a 43

44. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Joe is diagnosed with an ear infection and is scheduled for surgery. An incision will be made into the ear followed by insertion of pressure-equalizing tubes. Incision of the eardrum is charted as a myringotomy or tympanotomy.

45. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
To restore hearing loss, an electronic transmitter will be surgically implanted inside the inner ear. The hearing device produces sound by electrically stimulating nerves inside the inner ear. This surgical procedure is known as a (cochlear, auditory, PE) implant. 45

46. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
To restore hearing loss, an electronic transmitter will be surgically implanted inside the inner ear. The hearing device produces sound by electrically stimulating nerves inside the inner ear. This surgical procedure is known as a (cochlear, auditory, PE) implant.

47. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Daniel requires surgery to repair a ruptured tympanic membrane. Surgical repair of the tympanic membrane is called
John complains of wax buildup in his ears that is impeding his hearing. The physician explains that this is a common problem that can be resolved by a procedure performed in the office of flushing the ear with sterile water to dislodge the earwax. This procedure is called a/an (myringoplasty, ear irrigation, otoplasty). 47

48. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Daniel requires surgery to repair a ruptured tympanic membrane. Surgical repair of the tympanic membrane is called myringoplasty or tympanoplasty.
John complains of wax buildup in his ears that is impeding his hearing. The physician explains that this is a common problem that can be resolved by a procedure performed in the office of flushing the ear with sterile water to dislodge the earwax. This procedure is called a(n) (myringoplasty, ear irrigation, otoplasty). 48

49. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Pharmacology
Vertigo and motion sickness drugs
Decrease sensitivity of inner ear to motion.
Prevent nerve impulses from inner ear reaching the vomiting center of the brain. 49

50. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Pharmacology
Wax emulsifiers
Loosen and help remove impacted cerumen (ear wax).
Excessive wax can be washed out, vacuumed out, or removed with the use of special instruments. 50

51. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
To loosen and help remove impacted cerumen in 3-year-old Johnny, the physician uses a (vertigo and motion sickness drug, wax emulsifier).
To combat the patient’s dizziness, the physician prescribes a (vertigo and motion sickness drug, wax emulsifier). 51

52. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
To loosen and help remove impacted cerumen in 3-year-old Johnny, the physician uses a (vertigo and motion sickness drug, wax emulsifier).
To combat the patient’s dizziness, the physician prescribes a (vertigo and motion sickness drug, wax emulsifier). 52

53. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Barb informs the doctor that she is going on a cruise for a month and is concerned about motion sickness. The physician prescribes a drug to help Barb with her motion sickness that is called a (vertigo and motion sickness drug, wax emulsifier). 53

54. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Barb informs the doctor that she is going on a cruise for a month and is concerned about motion sickness. The physician prescribes a drug to help Barb with her motion sickness that is called a (vertigo and motion sickness drug, wax emulsifier).

55. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Barb asks the pharmacist to explain to her how the motion sickness drug works that she will be taking while on her cruise. 55

56. 11 SPECIAL SENSES—EARS Clinically Related Exercise
Barb asks the pharmacist to explain to her how the motion sickness drug works that she will be taking while on her cruise. She explains that the drug decreases the sensitivity of the inner ear to motion. It also prevents nerve impulses from the inner ear reaching the vomiting center of the brain.

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