HLTH 2501: the ear

Question 1

external ear

Answer 1

consists of the pinna (auricle) and the external auditory meatus or canal

Question 2

where does the external ear canal pass through?

Answer 2

the temporal bone to the tympanic membrane

Question 3

middle ear

Answer 3

consists of the tympanic cavity and the ossicles

Question 4

what is the stapes in contact with?

Answer 4

the oval window

Question 5

what does the middle ear open into?

Answer 5

the auditory or eustachian tube and this connects to the nasopharynx

Question 6

function of the auditory tube

Answer 6

to equalize pressure in the middle ear with the external ear canal

Question 7

what lines the middle ear cavity?

Answer 7

a continuous mucus membrane

Question 8

why is spread of infection so easy to the ear?

Answer 8

because of the continuous mucus membrane that connects the middle ear cavity to the nasopharynx

Question 9

name for the inner ear

Answer 9

the labyrinth

Question 10

two parts of the inner ear

Answer 10

the cochlea and the semicircular canals

Question 11

what connects the cochlea and semicircular canals?

Answer 11

a vestibule

Question 12

cochlea

Answer 12

spiral fluid filled structures that surrounds the organ of corti

Question 13

where in the brain is sound processed?

Answer 13

the temporal lobe

Question 14

what determines the loudness of sound?

Answer 14

the height of a wave

Question 15

what determines the pitch of sound?

Answer 15

the frequency

Question 16

semicircular canals

Answer 16

found in the inner ear and sense balance and equilibrium in 3 axes

Question 17

what senses balance and equilibrium in the semicircular canals?

Answer 17

the crista ampullaris

Question 18

vertigo

Answer 18

is a sense of rotation of self or the environment and is caused by vestibular damage

Question 19

2 types of hearing loss

Answer 19

conduction deafness and sensorineural deafness

Question 20

conduction deafness

Answer 20

occurs when sound is blocked in the external ear or the middle ear

Question 21

examples of causes of conduction deafness

Answer 21

wax or a foreign object in the external ear canal or scar tissue or adhesions near the tympanic membrane

Question 22

sensorineural deafness

Answer 22

develops with damage to the organ or corti or the auditory nerve

Question 23

what can sensorineural deafness result from?

Answer 23

infection, sudden loud sounds, prolonged exposure to loud noise, head trauma, or other neurological disorders

Question 24

common infections causing sensorineural impairment

Answer 24

rubella, influenza, and herpes

Question 25

drugs and hearing loss

Answer 25

some can cause temporary or permanent damage and include antibiotics like streptomycin, analgesics like aspirin, or the diuretic furosemide

Question 26

early signs of drug toxicity causing hearing damage?

Answer 26

tinnitus

Question 27

what can tinnitus be addressed with?

Answer 27

noise suppression therapy and medications like lipo-favonoids

Question 28

presbycusis

Answer 28

is a sensorineural loss that occurs in elderly people owing to a reduced number of hair cells in the cochlea

Question 29

treatment for deaf newborns

Answer 29

regular therapy with a speech-language pathologist, lip-reading, sign-language, or assistive devices for communication

Question 30

cochlear implants

Answer 30

can be successful for sensorineural loss in young deaf children and adults; this works by bypassing structures in the ear to stimulate the auditory nerve directly when this is still functioning; is usually effective when used in young age

Question 31

otitis media

Answer 31

is an inflammation or infection of the middle ear cavity which is caused by exudate building up and causing pressure on the tympanic membrane

Question 32

what can occur with otitis media?

Answer 32

the fluid cannot drain into the nasopharynx, and therefore the increased pressure can cause the rupture of the tympanic membrane, which may lead to scar tissue and conductive hearing loss

Question 33

why is otitis media more common in children?

Answer 33

because their auditory canal is shorter and wider and forms more of a right angle with the nasopharynx, thereby facilitating drainage of respiratory secretions into the auditory tube

Question 34

common causative agents of otitis media

Answer 34

haemophilus influenzae, pneumococci, beta-hemolytic streptococci, and staphylococci; viral infections may also lead to this when complicated by a secondary bacterial infection

Question 35

signs of otitis media

Answer 35

earache, red and bulging tympanic membrane, mild hearing loss, fever, nausea, and rupture may cause purulent discharge from the external ear canal

Question 36

treatment for otitis media

Answer 36

antibiotic treatment is controversial, so ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used; other options are decongestants, drainage tubes, or chewing gum; surgery may be used if the ossicles adhere to the membrane

Question 37

cholesteatoma

Answer 37

is a cyst like mass that may develop with chronic otitis media and the accompanying ruptured membrane that is formed by epithelial cells; this may erode the ossicle and impair hearing

Question 38

otitis externa

Answer 38

aka swimmers ear and is an infection of the external auditory canal and pinna

Question 39

causes of otitis externa

Answer 39

usually is bacterial and may be caused by swimming, cleaning the ear, or earphones or earplugs

Question 40

signs of otitis externa

Answer 40

pain, purulent discharge, and a hearing deficit

Question 41

difference between otitis externa and media

Answer 41

externa will have pinna pain

Question 42

otosclerosis

Answer 42

involves an imbalance in bone formation and resorption and can cause excess body in the middle ear cavity, causing the stapex to become fixed to the oval window and blocking sound into the cochlea

Question 43

development of otosclerosis

Answer 43

is genetic and common in young females

Question 44

treatment for otosclerosis

Answer 44

surgical removal of the stapes and replacement by a prosthesis

Question 45

meniere syndrome

Answer 45

is an inner ear disorder that affects one ear via excessive endolymph developing, stretching the membranes and interfering with the function of hair cells

Question 46

meniere syndrome attack

Answer 46

occurs when rupture of the labyrinth membrane allows perilymph to mix with endolymph, increasing the volume

Question 47

signs of a meniere syndrome attack

Answer 47

severe vertigo, tinnitus, unilateral hearing loss, nausea, sweating, inability to focus, nystagmus, and a feeling of pressure in the ear

Question 48

what do repeated occurrences of meniere syndrome cause?

Answer 48

permanent damage to the hair cells, with permanent loss of hearing and vertigo

Question 49

causes of a meniere syndrome attack

Answer 49

stress, changes in barometric pressure, high sodium diet, and smoking, alcohol, or caffeine

Question 50

tests for meniere syndrome

Answer 50

balance tests, electronystagmography, fluid test, electocochleogprahy tests, and MRI

Question 51

electronystagmography

Answer 51

evaluates balance by assessing eye movement

Question 52

fluid test

Answer 52

checks for abnormal buildup in the inner ear

Question 53

electrocochleography test

Answer 53

responds to sounds

Question 54

treatment for meniere syndrome attacks

Answer 54

dimenhydrinate, diazepam, or antihistamines