The Ear Is a Major Sense Organ Concerned with Two Important Functions;

THE EAR

The ear is a major sense organ concerned with two important functions;

a) Hearing b) Balance

The ear provides an auditory input into the brain by detecting vibrations in the surrounding air and converting them into nerve impulses. These impulses are relayed to the brain where they are interpreted as sounds. The possession of two ears allows us the ability to sense direction.

The role of the ear in balance is achieved by vestibular apparatus detecting changes in velocity and position of the body. Nerves relay this information to centres within the cerebellum of the brain.

Root Combining form Meaning Acoust Acoust/o Hear/hearing/sound Audi Audi/o Hear/hearing Aur Aur/i, -aural Ear Auricul Auricul/o Ear/pinna Cerumin cerumin/o Cerumen / ear wax (cera - wax) Cochle Cochle/o Cochlea, snail (receptor for hearing in the inner ear) Incud Incud/o, -incudal Incus bone or anvil Labyrinth Labyrinth/o Maze, twisted spiral shape Malle Malle/o Malleus bone or hammer Mast Mastoid/o Breast, nipple shaped Myring Myring/o Membrane Ot Ot/o Ear Salping Salping/o Eustachian or trumpet tube Staped/o, Stapedi Stapes bone or stirrup stapedi/o Tympan Tympan/o Drum Vestibul Vestibul/o Entrance

Activity 1 Build words which mean

1. The study of the anatomy and physiology of the ear______

2. Fungal infection/condition of the ear ______

3. Excessive flow of pus from the ear______

THE EAR Page 1 of 5 4. Instrument to view the ear ______

The ear can be divided into three areas, the external, middle and inner ear. Infection and inflammation (otitis) can occur in any of these areas. Terms used to describe the position of the inflammation are;

Otitis externa – inflammation of the external ear Otitis media – inflammation of the middle ear Otitis interna – inflammation of the inner ear

Infection commonly begins in the middle ear because it is connected to the nasopharynx by a short tube known as the Eustachian canal. This canal functions to equalize the pressure on either side of the eardrum but it also provides an entrance for microorganisms.

Activity 2 Write the meaning of

1. Binaural ______2. Endaural ______3. Salpingitis ______

Viewing the ear canal and tympanic membrane is improved by using an aural speculum, a device which is inserted into the external ear before examining with an auriscope.

The auriscope is used to examine the external ear canal and the ear membrane. Occasionally, the ear canal becomes blocked by excessive wax production by the cerumenous (wax) glands in its lining. This can be removed by washing the ear with warm water using an aural syringe.

1. Incision into the ear membrane ______2. Instrument used to cut the ear membrane______3. Middle ear infection ______4. Reconstruction surgery of the tympanum ______5. Removal of the stapes ______

Sometimes the tympanic membrane is surgically punctured to assist the drainage of fluid from the middle ear (as in glue ear). Once an opening is made in the membrane, fluid drains through the Eustachian tube into the nasopharynx. A small

THE EAR Page 2 of 5 plastic grommet can be fixed into the membrane and this assists drainage for an extended period. The grommet eventually falls out and the membrane heals.

1. Technique of recording the cochlea’s electrical activity ______2. Inflammation of the labyrinth ______3. Removal of the tissue from the mastoid process ______

Within the middle ear are found the smallest bones in the body, the ear ossicles – they are the malleus, incus and stapes. Their function is to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear via the oval window. Behind the oval window is a fluid filled structure known as the cochlea, the organ of hearing. Within the cochlea are sensory hair cells, which respond to vibrations in the fluid by producing nerve impulses. The auditory area of the brain interprets these sounds and enables us to hear.

1. The science dealing with the study of hearing______2. Instrument to measure hearing ______3. Chart/tracing of hearing ability ______4. The measurement of hearing ______

Abbreviations:

AC Air conduction AD Auris dextra (right ear) AD Auris Dextra (right ear) AS Auris sinistra (left ear) AS Auris Sinister (left ear) Aud Audiology BC Bone conduction ENT Ear nose and throat ETF Eustachian tube function OE Otitis externa OM otitis media

THE EAR Page 3 of 5 Oto Otology

Conditions and Terms: deafness - hearing impairment resulting from obstruction of sound waves conductive glue ear accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, causing deafness Meniere's disorder of inner ear characterised by recurrent vertigo, deafness disease and tinnitus otalgia pain in ear (earache) otorrhagia bleeding from the ear otorrhoea discharge from the ear tinnitus continuous ringing, buzzing noise in ear dizziness, sensation of feeling that the person or his surroundings vertigo are spinning

Procedures: audiogram recording tracing of hearing (made with an audiometer) myringoplasty surgical repair of a perforation of the tympanic membrane myringotomy incision made into the eardrum ossiculoplasty repair of the ear bones otoplasty plastic surgery of the ear stapedectomy removal of the stapes, third ossicle of the ear surgical repair of the tympanic membrane when there are tympanoplasty problems with disease such as infection or bone problems

THE EAR Page 4 of 5 Ear flap (pinna) Ear membrane Middle ear and ear drum

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Section through the ear

Write the appropriate combining form on the dotted lines – more than one component may relate to the same position.

Auricul/o Cochle/o Labyrinth/o Mastoid/o Myring/o Ot/o Salping/o Tympan/o Vestibul/o

THE EAR Page 5 of 5