Ch. 18 Key Terms - Medical-Surgical Nursing | OpenStax

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Key Terms

acoustic neuroma: benign tumor of the vestibular nerve

anisocoria: unequally sized pupils

aqueous humor: one of the clear fluids inside the eyeball

astigmatism: blurred vision caused by irregularities in the cornea or lens

audiologist: specialist in hearing testing and treatment

audiometry: comprehensive hearing test that measures a person’s response to frequencies and volumes of sound

barotrauma: rapid or extreme changes in air pressure that cause the eardrum to rupture

cataract: clouding of the lens within the eye

cerumen: earwax

cholesteatoma: growth of abnormal skin in the middle ear

closed-angle glaucoma: type of glaucoma in which the drainage angle between the cornea and iris suddenly becomes blocked, leading to a rapid increase in intraocular pressure and other severe symptoms

CMV retinitis: ocular infection caused by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) that primarily affects the retina

conjunctiva: thin, clear membrane that covers and protects the eye

conjunctivitis: inflammation of the conjunctiva

corneal abrasion: loss or disruption of the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the cornea

corneal dystrophies: group of inherited disorders characterized by abnormal deposits or changes in corneal structure

corneal ulcer: area of tissue breakdown in the cornea

diplopia: double vision

Epley maneuver: repositioning of the head through physical therapy to treat vertigo

erythema: redness of the skin or mucus membranes

external otitis: inflammation of the external ear

hyperopia: (also: farsightedness) the condition of seeing distant objects more clearly than closer objects

keratoconjunctivitis sicca: (also: dry eye) common ocular disorder characterized by insufficient tear production or poor tear quality, leading to dryness and discomfort of the eyes

keratoconus: progressive corneal disorder characterized by the thinning and distortion of the cornea, resulting in a conical shape

mastoidectomy: removal of infected cells from the mastoid bone

mastoiditis: infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear

myopia: (also: nearsightedness) the condition of seeing closer objects more clearly than distant objects

myringotomy: surgical incision in the tympanic membrane

open-angle glaucoma: type of glaucoma in which the drainage angle between the cornea and iris remains open but the fluid outflow is impeded

otalgia: ear pain

otitis media: (also: middle ear infection) prevalent condition caused by the invasion of microorganisms into the middle ear via the Eustachian tube

otorrhea: ear discharge

otoscopy: visual examination of the ear using an otoscope

ototoxicity: toxic effects of certain medications or chemicals on the structures of the inner ear, leading to hearing loss, balance problems, or other auditory-related symptoms

pterygium: raised thickening of the conjunctiva which extends into the cornea

retinal vascular disorder: condition that affects the blood vessels supplying the retina

retinopathy: disease of the retina

tinnitus: ringing or buzzing in the ear

tonometry: measurement of the pressure within the eyes

tympanic membrane perforation: ruptured eardrum

tympanometry: physical test to measure the function of the tympanic membrane

tympanoplasty: surgical reconstruction of the eardrum

tympanostomy tube: small tube placed within the tympanic membrane to prevent fluid buildup behind the ear

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Authors: Christy Bowen, Bridget Carey, Jessica Palozie, Maren Reinholdt
Publisher/website: OpenStax
Book title: Medical-Surgical Nursing
Publication date: Oct 16, 2024
Location: Houston, Texas
Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/medical-surgical-nursing/pages/1-introduction
Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/medical-surgical-nursing/pages/18-key-terms

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