Term
Structures of the Ear:
External ear auricle (pinna) |
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Definition
| external structure located on both sides of the head. The auricle directs sound waves into the external auditory meatus. |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
external auditory meatus (canal) |
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Definition
| short tube that ends at the tympanic membrane. The innner part lies within the temporal bone of the skull and contains the glands that secrete earwax (cerumen). |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
middle ear, tympanic membrane (eardrum) |
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Definition
| semitransparent membrane that separates the external auditory meatus and the middle ear cavity. |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
eustachian tube |
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Definition
| connects the middle ear and the pharynx. It equalizes air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
ossicles |
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Definition
| 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 sounds vibrations in the inner ear. |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
labyrinth (inner ear) |
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Definition
| bony spaces within the temporal lobe of the skull. It contains the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibule |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
cochlea |
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Definition
| is snail-shaped and contains the organ of hearing. The cochlea connects to the oval window of the middle ear |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
semicircular canals and vestibule |
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Definition
| contains receptors and endolymph that help the body maintain equilibrium. |
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Term
Structures of the Ear:
mastoid bone and cells |
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Definition
| located in the skull bone behind the external auditory meatus |
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Term
Combining Forms
acou/o, audi/o |
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Definition
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Term
Combining Forms
aur/i, aur/o, ot/o |
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Definition
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Term
Combining Forms
labyrinth/o |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| tympanic membrane (eardrum) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| tympanic membrane (eardrum), middle ear |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
labyrithitis |
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Definition
| inflammation of the labyrinth (inner ear) |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
mastoiditis |
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Definition
| inflammation of the mastoid bone |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
myringitis |
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Definition
| inflammation of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
otalgia |
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Definition
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
otomastoiditis |
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Definition
| inflammation of the ear and mastoid bone |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
otomycosis |
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Definition
| abnormal condition of fungus in the ear (usually affects the external auditory meatus) |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
otopyorrhea |
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Definition
| discharge of pus from the ear |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
otosclerosis |
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Definition
| hardening of the ear (stapes) (caused by irregula bone development and resulting in hearing loss) |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms
tympanitis |
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Definition
| inflammation of the middle ear (also called otitis media) |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
acoustic neuroma |
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Definition
| benign tumor within the auditory canal growing from the acoustic nerve. May cause hearing loss |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
ceruminoma |
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Definition
| tumor of a gland that secretes earwax |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
Meniere Disease |
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Definition
| chronic disease of the inner ear characterized by dizziness and ringing in the ear and hearing loss |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
otitis externa |
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Definition
| inflammation of the outer ear |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
otitis media (OM) |
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Definition
| inflammation of the middle ear |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
presbycusis |
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Definition
| hearing impairment in old age |
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
tinnitus |
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Definition
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Term
Disease and Disorder Terms not built from word parts
vertigo |
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Definition
| a sense that either one's own body (subjective vertigo) or the environment (objective vertigo) is revolving. May indicate inner ear disease. |
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Term
Surgical Terms
labyrinthectomy |
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Definition
| excision of the labyrinth |
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Term
Surgical Terms
mastoidectomy |
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Definition
| incision into the mastoid bone |
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Term
Surgical Terms
mastoidotomy |
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Definition
| incision into the mastoid bone |
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Term
Surgical Terms
myringoplasty |
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Definition
| incision into the tympanic membrane (performed to release pus or fluid and relieve pressure in the middle ear- also called tympanocentesis) |
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Term
Surgical Terms
stapedectomy |
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Definition
| excision of the stapes. (performed to restore hearing in cases of osteosclerosis. The stapes is replaced by a prosthesis). |
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Term
Surgical Terms
tympanoplasty |
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Definition
| surgical repair of the middle ear |
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Term
Diagnostic Terms
acoumeter |
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Definition
| instrument used to measure (acuteness of hearing) |
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Term
Diagnostic Terms
audiogram |
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Definition
| (graphic) record of hearing |
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Term
Diagnostic Terms
audiometer |
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Definition
| instrument used to measure hearing |
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Term
Diagnostic Terms
audiometry |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| instrument used for visual examination of the ear? |
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Term
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Definition
| visual examination of the ear |
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Term
Diagnostic Terms
tympanometer |
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Definition
| an instrument used to measure middle ear function |
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Term
Diagnostic Terms
tympanometry |
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Definition
| measurement (movement) of the tympanic membrane |
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Term
Complementary Terms
audiologist |
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Definition
| one who studies and specializes in hearing |
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Term
Complementary Terms
audiology |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
Complementary Terms
otologist |
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Definition
| physician who studies and treats diseases of the ear |
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Term
Complementary Terms
otology |
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Definition
| study of the ear (a branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the ear) |
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Term
Complementary Terms
otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) |
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Definition
| physician who studies and treats diseases of the ear, nose and larynx (throat) (also called otolaryngologist) |
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