SPECIAL SENSES: EARS

Chapter 11
Classroom Activity to Accompany
Medical Terminology Simplified,
Fourth Edition
Barbara A. Gylys Regina M. Masters
Copyright 2010 by F.A. Davis Company.
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3
Structure
Ear contains
receptors for two
senses: hearing and
equilibrium
(balance).
Ear consists of an
external, middle,
and inner part.


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Structure
External ear
Auricle (pinna)
External auditory canal
Middle ear
Tympanic cavity
Tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Malleus, incus, and stapes

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Structure
Inner ear
Complex system of communicating
chambers and tubes called a labyrinth.
Contains the functional organs for
hearing and equilibrium.
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Structure and Function Exercise
Q: What is involved in the process of hearing?
A: Transmission of vibrations and generation of nerve
impulses.
Q: What is the sequence of structures involved in the vibrations
of sound wave transmission?
A: Sound waves enter the ear canal and vibrations are
transmitted by the following sequence of structures:
eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes, oval window of the inner
ear, perilymph and endolymph within the cochlea, and hair
cells of the organ of Corti. When hair cells bend, they
generate impulses that are carried to the auditory areas of
the brain. It is here that sounds are heard and interpreted.

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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.
SPECIAL SENSES: EARS
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8
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.
SPECIAL SENSES: EARS
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9
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.
PE tubes are inserted surgically into the
tympanic membrane to equalize pressure
between the atmosphere and the middle ear.
SPECIAL SENSES: EARS
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10
Clinically Related Exercise
Q: A 5-year-old is examined because of ear pain. The MA charts this symptom as
_________________.
A: otodynia or otalgia
Q: Baby Mollys mother asks the physician why infants and young children are
more at risk for developing otitis media.
A: Eustachian tubes of children and infants are shorter and narrower than adults,
making them more susceptible to blockages and retention of fluid when they
become inflamed from bacterial or viral infection.
Q: The mother of a 3-year-old girl ask the NP what complications can develop if
otitis media is not treated.
A: Untreated ear infections may lead to short- or long-term hearing loss, ruptured
eardrum, or mastoiditis. Also, there is a risk of the ear infection traveling to
other parts of the head.
Q: Baby Johnny has a history of chronic otitis media. The physician recommends
that tubes be surgically placed into the tympanic membrane to equalize
pressure between the atmosphere and the middle ear. The abbreviation for
these tubes is ________ tubes.
A: PE
SPECIAL SENSES: EARS
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11
Hearing Loss
Signs and Symptoms
Temporary or permanent loss of hearing
Treatment
Varies with the 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
SPECIAL SENSES: EARS
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Clinically Related Exercise
Q: An 85-year-old male presents to the clinic with age-related hearing loss. The
MA charts this condition as _________________.
A: presbycusis
Q: John X is advised his hearing loss is due to a disorder characterized by an
abnormal hardening of bones in the middle ear. The doctor charts this medical
condition as _____________________.
A: otosclerosis
Q: A 7-year old male presents for a surgery that involves removing part of the
stapes and implanting a prosthetic device to allow sound waves to pass in the
inner ear. The surgical procedure for removing part of the stapes is called
_____________________.
A: stapedectomy
Q: Mr. C presents for various diagnostic tests to assess his hearing. The doctor
explains that one of the tests involves a tuning fork to evaluate bone
conduction of sound in both ears at the same time. This test is known as the
__________________.
A: Weber tuning fork test
SPECIAL SENSES: EARS
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13
Medical Vocabulary
acoustic
anacusis
blepharoptosis
cholesteatoma
mucoserous
myringoplasty
otolaryngology

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Medical Vocabulary
otosclerosis
presbycusis
tinnitus
vertigo

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Diagnostic Procedures
Audiometry
Otoscopy
Rinne and Weber hearing tests

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Word Building Exercise
Q: Act of measuring hearing:
A: audiometry
Q: Surgical repair of the tympanic membrane
(eardrum):
A: tympanoplasty
Q: Visual examination of the ear:
A: otoscopy
Q: Surgical repair of the ear:
A: otoplasty
Q: Abnormal condition of ear hardening:
A: otosclerosis
Q: Without hearing:
A: anacusis

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Medical and Surgical Procedures
Cochlear implant
Myringoplasty
Myringotomy
Incision of tympanic
membrane followed
by insertion of a PE
tube.
SPECIAL SENSES: EARS
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Clinically Related Exercise
Q: 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 ______________.
A: myringotomy or tympanotomy
Q: To restore hearing loss, an electronic transmitter will be surgically
implanted inside the inner ear. The hearing device produces sound by
electrical stimulating nerves inside the inner ear. This surgical procedure is
known as a (cochlear, auditory, PE) implant.
A: cochlear
Q: Daniel requires surgery to repair a ruptured tympanic membrane. Surgical
repair of the tympanic membrane is called __________________.
A: myringoplasty or tympanoplasty
Q: Justin had a PE tube inserted into his right ear. PE is the abbreviation for
_______________ (tube).
A: pressure equalizing
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Pharmacology
Vertigo and motion sickness drugs
Wax emulsifiers
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Clinically Related Exercise
Q: To loosen and help remove impacted cerumen in 3-year-
old Johnny, the physician uses a (vertigo and motion
sickness drug, wax emulsifier).
A: wax emulsifier
Q: To combat the patients dizziness the physician prescribes
a (vertigo and motion sickness drug, wax emulsifier).
A: vertigo and motion sickness drug
Q: The physician prescribes a (vertigo and motion sickness
drug, wax emulsifier) to reduce sensitivity of the inner ear
to motion while Barbara is on a cruise.
A: vertigo and motion sickness drug
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