Quiz 1 Flashcards
Function - Outer Ear
Collect sound energy and channel it into head
Function - Middle Ear
TM captures/transmits sound energy to ossicles
Ossicles converts sound energy to mechanical energy, amplifies it, and transfers it to the oval window of the cochlea
Function - Eustachian Tube
Pressure adjustments
Drainage
Protection from nasopharyngeal secretions and bacteria
Eustachian tube is opened by contraction of what muscle?
tensor veli palantini during swallowing/yawning
Perilymph
Found in the bony labyrinth
High Na, low K (similar to CSF)
Endolymph
Found in the membranous labyrinth
Low Na, high K
Function - Vestibule
Proprioception and balance
Function - Cochlea
Conversion of sound energy into electrical energy
How is sound transmitted in the ear?
Sound is collected by the outer ear
TM captures sound, transmits to ossicles
Ossicles convert sound energy into mechanical energy, transmits to cochlea
Mechanical energy moves endolymph in membranous labyrinth, causing flow of K+ ions across negatively-charged hairs on Organ of Corti, causing synapse firing
Information is conveyed by CNVIII to auditory area of temporal lobe, where it is interpreted as sound
Where is the only vascularized epithelium in the body?
inner ear
Function - Stria vascularis
“back-up battery” for Organ of Corti
Maintains endolymph
DDX - Ear pain (outer ear)
Lichen simplex chronicus Seborrheic dermatitis Contact dermatitis Atopic dermatitis Acute cellulitis Erysipelas Infectious chondritis Relapsing polychondritis Auricular hematoma
Tx: Lichen simplex chronicus
education, cut nails, soothing lotion
What are other common locations to find seborrheic dermatitis?
scalp, eyebrows
What are other common locations to find atopic dermatitis?
flexural folds, ear canal
DDX: atopic derm vs. otitis externa
AD - sterile, no WBC, not infected
Acute cellulitis and erysipelas occur secondary to ___.
dermatitis, trauma
DDX: cellulitis vs. erysipelas
Cellulitis: more superficial, smaller area, usu caused by GABHS
Erysipelas: deeper infection, involves entire auricle, pt will be sicker (fever, chills)
Infectious chondritis is usually secondary to ___.
erysipelas
DDX: Erysipelas vs. Infectious chondritis
IC involves cartilage
DDX: Relapsing polychondritis vs. Infectious chondritis
RP - non-infectious, bilateral, spares lobes, nasal/ocular chondritis or arthritis possible
IC - infectious, involves the lobe, systemic sxs
Tx: Auricular hematoma
Remove fluid with 18g needle and 10 cc syringe, cover w/ compression dressing for 48 hours
DDx - Ear pain (ear canal)
Otitis externa Malignant otitis externa Otitis media (acute, serous) Otic barotrauma Impacted cerumen Foreign bodies Osteoma
Risk factors: OE
Change in pH from acid to alkaline
Inc. temp/humidity
Mild trauma/freq. cleaning
SSx: OE
TTP ear canal and auricle, aural fullness, hearing loss, unilateral or b/l
Risk factors: MOE
Diabetics
Alcoholics
Severe malnourished
SSx: MOE
Ear pn, purulent d/c, no fever, no swelling, granulation tissue at junction of temporal bone
Most important sign of MOE?
granulation tissue at junction of temporal bone
MC causative agent of MOE?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Complications: MOE
Osteomyeltitis, hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, death
Tx: MOE
Refer to ENT, anti-pseudomonal agents
AOM is usu 2˚ to __.
URI
SSx: AOM
Usu unilateral, begins w/ sensation of blockage/hearing loss (fluid, loss of bony landmarks, red TM, small/distorted light reflex), progression to fever (>99.5˚F), < evening
What are the best clues for AOM in infants?
insomnia, irritability, anorexia
Which sign, if present, can be used to rule in AOM?
Bulging TM
Which sign, if absent, can be used to rule out AOM?
Immobile TM
Risk factors: Otic barotrauma
air travel
scuba diving
SSx: Otic barotrauma
Ear pn < yawning, hearing loss, dizziness
SSx: Impacted cerumen
discomfort to ear pn, hearing loss, dizziness, reflex cough
Cerumen impaction is mc in which populations?
elderly, pts w/ cognitive impairment
Tx: impacted cerumen
cerumenolytic agents, irrigation, manual removal
What is the main contraindication to ear lavage?
Perforated TM
Why should irrigation should not be done with beans?
They can swell.
What are osteomas?
Exostoses of the external auditory meatus
SSx: osteoma
Usu asx, occasional conductive hearing loss
Tx: osteoma
Surgery
What homeopathic is indicated for osteomas?
Hekla lava
DDx: Referred ear pain (normal otoscopic exam)
TMJ dysfunction (MC), molars, head/neck malignancies
What are red flags for serious occult cause of referred ear pain?
Smokers, alcoholics, >50 years old, diabetics
SSx: Serous Otitis Media (OME)
Usu painless, plugged feeling, aural fullness
What are the MC causes of OME?
Allergies, viral infection
PE: OME
TM yellow/amber Bubbles, fluid level Retraction Tympanogram flat-type B Little/no movement of insufflation Conductive hearing loss
Tympanometry: Type A vs B vs C
A: Normal
B: early AOM, OME
C: Eustachian tube dysfunction
Eosinophilic otitis media mainly occurs in pts with __.
bronchial asthma
SSx: Infectious Myringitis
Red/painful ear, no middle ear involvement, vesicles on TM (if S. pneumoniae)
SSx: Herpes Zoster Oticus (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome)
Otalgia, facial palsy, hearing loss, vertigo, pathognomonic vesicular rash of the pinna, ext. auditory canal, TM
Cause: Herpes Zoster Oticus (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome)
Reactivation of VZV
Hearing loss and vertigo in Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is due to ___.
movement of virus from CN VIII to CN VII
What is the facial nerve deficit in Herpes Zoster Oticus (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome)?
Cannot close eyelid/lift eyebrow/smile
DDx: Mastoiditis vs. AOM
Mastoiditis will have ear pain like AOM, but also have pain behind the ear