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antihistamine
medication that relieves allergy symptoms, including stuffy nose and watery eyes
barotrauma
trauma that occurs when the air pressure in the middle ear does not equalize with ambient pressure
benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
a condition of the inner ear where otoliths migrate into the inner ear fluid, causing a false sense of spinning
cerumenolytic
a medication that softens and loosens ear wax to ease removal
cochlear nerve
one of two bifurcated nerves branching from the vestibulocochlear nerve; it transmits signals from the cochlea to the temporal lobe in the brain so sound can be heard
decongestant
a medication that shrinks swollen blood vessels and tissues in the nose to reduce nasal congestion and aid in relieving ear congestion
eardrum
a thin flap that separates the external or outer ear and middle ear; it vibrates to sound, which initiates an intricate relay throughout the ear structures traversing from the bones of the middle ear to the inner ear’s cochlea where hearing occurs; also known as the tympanic membrane
Eustachian tube
connects the middle ear to the nasal-sinus cavity
external auditory canal
path from the external ear to the middle ear
incus
one of three small bones in the middle ear; it transmits vibrations from the malleus to the stapes
malleus
one of three small bones in the middle ear; it is located closest to the tympanic membrane and transmits auditory oscillations to the incus
Ménière’s disease
occurs when fluid accumulates in the inner ear, which can be triggered by allergies, head injury, migraine headache; or viral infection; characterized by vertigo and hearing loss
ossicles
three small bones in the middle ear, consisting of the malleus, incus, and stapes, that transmit oscillatory vibrations from one small bone to another; the stapes sends sound to the inner ear in a highly coordinated relay system
otitis externa
inflammation and/or infection of the external ear canal characterized by itchiness, pain, and a red ear canal
otitis media
an inflammation or infection of the middle ear; also known as swimmer’s ear
otolith
a calcium carbonate crystal that normally resides in the base of the semicircular canal that can dislodge into the semicircular canal fluid and lead to bouts of vertigo
stapes
one of three small bones in the middle ear; it moves fluid into the cochlea in the inner ear
tinnitus
an ear disorder characterized by ringing or other annoying sounds in the ear
tympanic cavity
an air-filled compartment separated from the external ear by the tympanic membrane; it communicates with the pharynx via the Eustachian tube
vestibular nerve
one of two bifurcated nerves branching from the vestibulocochlear nerve; it controls motion and position
vestibulocochlear nerve
the eighth cranial nerve, which transmits sound from the inner ear to the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe of the brain.
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