1. The Special Senses: The Ears8
The Special Senses: The Ears

2. Multimedia Directory Slide 17 Middle Ear Animation
Slide 20 The Ear Animation
Slide 29 Otitis Media Video
Slide 33 Audiology Video

3. Learning Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
Define and spell the word parts used to create medical terms for the ears
Identify the parts of the ears and describe their structure and function
Define common medical terms used for the ears

4. Learning Objectives (cont.)
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
Break down and define common medical terms used for symptoms, diseases, disorders, procedures, treatments, and devices for the ears

5. The Ears Sensory receptors
Respond to mechanical vibrations, interpreted by brain as sound
Respond to body movement by providing a sense of equilibrium and body position

6. Prefixes a-, an- = without, absence of
hyper- = excessive, abnormally high, above
para- = near, alongside, departure from normal

7. Combining Forms acou/o, acoust/o = hearing aud/o, audi/o = hearing
aur/o = ear
labyrinth/o = maze, inner ear
laryng/o = voice box, larynx
mast/o = breast
myring/o = membrane, eardrum

8. Combining Forms (cont.)
neur/o = nerve
ot/o = ear
presby/o = old age
rhin/o = nose
salping/o = tube
staped/o = stirrup, stapes
tympan/o = eardrum

9. Suffixes -acusis, -cusis = hearing condition -algia = pain
-ectomy = surgical excision, removal
-itis = inflammation
-logist = one who studies
-logy = study of
-metry = measurement
-oid = resembling

10. Suffixes (cont.) -oma = abnormal swelling, tumor -osis = condition of
-otomy = cutting into, incision
-plasty = surgical repair
-rrhagia = bleeding, hemorrhage
-rrhea = discharge (of fluid)
-scope = viewing instrument
-scopy = process of viewing

11. Anatomy and Physiology
Each ear has three portions
Outer: Auricles and external auditory canal
Middle: Tympanic membrane (eardrum), and ossicles (small bones) in tympanic cavity
Malleus (or hammer)
Incus (or anvil)
Stapes (or stirrup)

12. Anatomy and Physiology (cont.)
Each ear has three portions
Inner (the labyrinth)
Cochlea
Vestibule
Semicircular canals

13. Figure 8.1 Anatomy of the ear

14. Outer Ear Auricles External auditory canal
Collect sound waves and direct them to the external auditory canal
External auditory canal
Specialized glands secrete earwax (cerumen)
Channels sound waves to the eardrum (entrance to the middle ear)

15. Middle Ear
Consists of
Tympanic membrane—eardrum
Ossicles—series of small bones
Tympanic cavity—receives distal opening of the eustachian tube, which begins at the throat

16. Figure 8.2 Tympanic membrane Source: Phototake NYC.

17. Click on the screenshot to view an animation on the middle ear.
Middle Ear Animation
Click on the screenshot to view an animation on the middle ear.
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18. Inner Ear
Consists of a series of winding, twisting channels within the temporal bone
These channels are lined with a membrane and form three structures
Cochlea
Vestibule
Semicircular canals

19. Word Roots aud, audi = hearing aur = ear labyrinth = maze, inner ear
mast = breast
tympan = eardrum

20. The animation may take a moment to begin playing.
The Ear Animation
Click on the screenshot to view an animation on the anatomy of the ear.
The animation may take a moment to begin playing.
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21. Symptoms and Signs Anacusis Hyperacusis Otalgia Otorrhagia
Total hearing loss
Hyperacusis
Overly sensitive hearing
Otalgia
Pain in the ear, or earache
Otorrhagia
Bleeding, or hemorrhage, from the ear

22. Symptoms and Signs (cont.)
Otorrhea
Abnormal drainage from the ear
Paracusis
Partial loss or impaired hearing
Tinnitus
A ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears
Vertigo
A sensation of dizziness

23. Diseases and Disorders
Acoustic neuroma
A benign tumor that arises from the auditory nerve
May cause hearing impairment
Cerumen impaction
Excessive buildup of earwax in the external auditory canal
Labyrinthitis
Inflammation of the labyrinth

24. Diseases and Disorders (cont.)
Mastoiditis
Inflammation of the mastoid process and associated tissues
Meniere’s disease
A chronic disease of the inner ear that includes dizziness and ringing in the ears
Myringitis
Inflammation of the eardrum
Also called tympanitis

25. Figure Myringitis Source: Professor Tony Wright, Institute of Laryngology and Otology/SPL/Photo Researchers, Inc.

26. Diseases and Disorders (cont.)
Otitis externa
Inflammation of the external auditory canal
Otitis media
Inflammation of the middle ear
Otopathy
Any disease of the ear

27. Figure Otitis media

28. Figure 8.4 (continued) Otitis media Source: Janet Hayes/Medical Images, Inc.

29. Click on the screenshot to view a video on the topic of otitis media.
Otitis Media Video
Click on the screenshot to view a video on the topic of otitis media.
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30. Diseases and Disorders (cont.)
Otosclerosis
Abnormal formation of bone between the stapes and the oval window
Causes a progressive loss of hearing
Presbyacusis
Hearing impairment that is associated with old age

31. Treatments, Procedures, and Devices
Acoumetry
A procedure that measures hearing using an instrument called an acoumeter
Audiologist
One who specializes in hearing disorders and treatment

32. Treatments, Procedures, and Devices (cont.)
Audiology
The study of hearing disorders
Audiometry
A procedure that measures hearing using an audiometer
A recording of the measurement is called an audiogram

33. Click on the screenshot to view a video on the topic of audiology.
Audiology Video
Click on the screenshot to view a video on the topic of audiology.
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34. Figure 8.5 Audiometry Source: Merrill Education.

35. Treatments, Procedures, and Devices (cont.)
Labyrinthectomy
Excision of the labyrinth from the temporal bone
Mastoidectomy
Excision of the mastoid process
Mastoidotomy
Incision into the mastoid process

36. Figure 8.6 Labyrinthectomy

37. Treatments, Procedures, and Devices (cont.)
Myringoplasty
Surgical repair of the tympanic membrane
Myringotomy
Incision into the tympanic membrane, usually to release pus and relieve pressure in the middle ear
Otology
The medical field of ear disorders and treatment

38. Treatments, Procedures, and Devices (cont.)
Otorhinolaryngologist
A physician who specializes in the treatment of ear, nose, and throat disorders
Otorhinolaryngology
The field of medicine that manages disorders of the ear, nose, and throat
Otoscopy
A visual examination of the ear using a handheld device called an otoscope

39. Figure 8.7 Otoscopy Source: Pearson Education

40. Treatments, Procedures, and Devices (cont.)
Stapedectomy
Excision of the stapes
Often performed to restore hearing and may involve replacement of the stapes with a prosthesis

41. Treatments, Procedures, and Devices (cont.)
Tympanometry
A procedure that evaluates tympanic membrane elasticity by measuring its movement with an instrument called a tympanometer
Tympanoplasty
Surgical repair of the tympanic membrane

42. Pharmaceuticals Antibiotic otic solutions Antiemetics
Anti-inflammatory otics
Cerumen emulsifiers

43. Abbreviations AD AS AU
ENT
EENT

44. Abbreviations (cont.) OM
Oto TM

45. Classroom Response System
Pretest

46. The combining form meaning a maze or inner ear is:
labyrinth/o
tympan/o
myring/o
aur/o

47. The combining form meaning a maze or inner ear is:
labyrinth/o
tympan/o
myring/o
aur/o

48. The combining form meaning ear is:
mast/o
ot/o
staped/o
aud/o

49. The combining form meaning ear is:
mast/o
ot/o
staped/o
aud/o

50. The suffix that means a hearing condition is:
-acusis
-itis
-rrhagia
-rrhea

51. The suffix that means a hearing condition is:
-acusis
-itis
-rrhagia
-rrhea

52. What part of the ear houses the hearing organ of Cor ti?
semicircular canals
cochlea
vestibule
cornea

53. What part of the ear houses the hearing organ of Cor ti?
semicircular canals
cochlea
vestibule
cornea

54. What auditory ossicle contacts the tympanic membrane?
malleus
incus
stapes
round window

55. What auditory ossicle contacts the tympanic membrane?
malleus
incus
stapes
round window

56. Classroom Response System
Post-test

57. What term refers to inflammation of the ear?
otorrhea
otalgia
otitis
otosclerosia

58. What term refers to inflammation of the ear?
otorrhea
otalgia
otitis
otosclerosia

59. What term best describes a ringing in the ears?
otalgia
otitis
otorrhea
tinnitus

60. What term best describes a ringing in the ears?
otalgia
otitis
otorrhea
tinnitus

61. What term means partial hearing loss?
otorrhea
paracusis
otalgia
anacusis

62. What term means partial hearing loss?
otorrhea
paracusis
otalgia
anacusis

63. Inflammation of the inner ear is known as:
mastoiditis
otitis externa
myringitis
labyrinthitis

64. Inflammation of the inner ear is known as:
mastoiditis
otitis externa
myringitis
labyrinthitis

65. Hearing impairment resulting from old age is called:
presbyopia
presbyacusis
otosclerosis
otitis media

66. Hearing impairment resulting from old age is called:
presbyopia
presbyacusis
otosclerosis
otitis media

67. What is the study of hearing disorders called?
audiology
otology
tympanometry
optometry

68. What is the study of hearing disorders called?
audiology
otology
tympanometry
optometry