Term | Definition |
acous/o; audi/o | the combining form for hearing |
aer/o | the combining form for air or gas |
aur/I; ot/o | the combining form for ear |
cerumin/o | the combining form for wax |
salping/o | the combining form for Eustachian tube |
tympan/o; myring/o | the combining form for eardrum |
-acusis | the suffix referring to a hearing condition |
equal air pressure | air passed to the auditory tube from outside of the body via the throat is important for maintaining this |
malleus (hammer) | the first of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear |
incus | the anvil is also known as this |
middle ear | the stapes (stirrup) is located here |
mastoid process | projection of the temporal bone located behind the ear |
inner ear | relays sound waves to the brain for interpretation of sound |
labyrinthitis | the term for inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinth) |
cochlea | coiled tubular structure of the inner ear |
organ of corti | organ located in the cochlea that contains receptors that receive vibrations and generate nerve impulses for hearing |
saccule | the term referring to a small/little bag |
semicircular canals | specialized receptor cells that generate nerve impulses with body movement |
otalgia; otodynia | the terms for earache |
otorrhea | the term for purulent drainage from the ear |
tinnitus | ringing or buzzing in the ear |
vertigo | the term referring to dizziness |
cerumen impaction | excessive buildup of wax in the ear |
myringitis; tympanitis | inflammation of the eardrum |
otitis media | inflammation of the middle ear |
Meniere disease | excessive buildup of endolymphatic fluid causing episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, and hearing loss |
deafness | partial or complete hearing loss |
conductive hearing loss | interference with sound or vibratory energy in the external canal, middle ear, or ossicles |
sensorineural hearing loss | impairment caused by lesions or dysfunction of the cochlea or auditory nerve |
audiometer | instrument used to measure hearing |
audiogram | record of hearing measurement |
audiologist | person who specialized in the study of hearing impairments |
tuning fork | two pronged instrument used to test for hearing, especially bone conduction |
otoscope | the instrument used to examine the external auditory meatus and tympanic membrane |
pneumatic otoscopy | observation of the tympanic membrane as air is released into the external auditory meatus |
myringotomy; tympanostomy | incision into the eardrum for insertion of a small metal or plastic tube |
stapedectomy | excision to correct otosclerosis |
cochlear implant; auditory prosthesis | this electronic device is implanted to help improve or substitute for natural hearing loss |
ear lavage | irrigation of the external ear canal, to remove excessive buildup of cerumen |
antibiotic | drug used to treat otitis media |