Structures
This external part of the ear captures sound waves and directs them into the auditory canal.
pinna (auricle)
This sticky substance, secreted in the outer ear canal, can become impacted and cause earache, tinnitus, or temporary hearing loss.
cerumen (earwax)
What does blephar/o mean?
eyelid
This handheld instrument is used to visually examine the external ear canal and tympanic membrane.
otoscope
This type of hearing aid uses a computer chip to filter and amplify sound and can often be adjusted using a smartphone.
digital hearing aid
This tube connects the middle ear to the throat and helps equalize air pressure.
eustachian tube
This type of ear infection affects the external auditory canal and is commonly referred to as swimmer's ear.
otitis externa
What is Otalgia?
earache, pain in the ear
This type of hearing test involves both ears and assesses hearing acuity simultaneously.
binaural testing
These small tubes are placed through the eardrum to relieve pressure and drain fluids in children prone to ear infections.
tympanostomy tubes (ear tubes)
This small membrane, also known as the eardrum, vibrates when struck by sound waves.
tympanic membrane
This chronic inner ear disorder is marked by recurrent vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, and tinnitus, due to excess fluid in the inner ear.
Ménière’s disease
What is Otomycosis?
a fungal infection of the external auditory canal
This test uses air pressure in the ear canal to assess middle ear disorders and produces a tympanogram.
tympanometry
This surgical procedure removes the stapes bone and replaces it with a prosthetic device to improve hearing.
stapedectomy
These three structures in the inner ear contain endolymph and hair cells that respond to head movement, aiding in balance.
semicircular canals
This rare, benign tumor develops near the cranial nerve leading from the brain to the inner ear and may cause hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus.
acoustic neuroma
What is Endophthalmitis?
inflammation of the intraocular fluids; can be caused by infection or as a complication of eye surgery
This evaluation measures the ability to hear and understand speech based on pitch and loudness, often producing an audiogram.
audiological evaluation (speech audiometry)
This surgical removal of the labyrinth is performed to relieve uncontrollable vertigo but results in total hearing loss in the affected ear.
labyrinthectomy
This specific part of the cochlea contains the organ of Corti, which relays sound vibrations to auditory nerve fibers.
cochlear duct
This type of hearing loss occurs when sound waves are unable to pass from the air to the fluid-filled inner ear, often due to otosclerosis or earwax buildup.
conductive hearing loss
What is Periorbital edema?
swelling of the tissues surrounding the eye or eyes (peri- means surrounding, orbit means eyeball, and -al means pertaining to)
These two tuning fork tests help distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss by comparing air and bone conduction.
Weber and Rinne tests
This electronic device bypasses damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve with signals converted by an external speech processor.
cochlear implant