Foundation year
At the end of this chapter, you should able to:
1. Label a diagram of the ear.
2. Identify and use word parts pertaining to the ear and
hearing.
3. Describe the main disorders pertaining to the ear.
4. Interpret abbreviations used in the study of the ear.
5. Analyze several case studies pertaining to hearing.
MEDICAL TERMS PERTAINING
TO EAR & HEARING
1. Aural (adj) (or-al) referring to the ear.
2. Audiology : study of hearing. The combining form audi/o
means hearing.
Audiological – adj.
Auditory – adj
3. Audiologist: person who specializes in hearing.
4. Audiometry (n) measurement of hearing.
5. Otoscope (n): Otoscope is an instrument for examining the ear
and the eardrum.
6. Otoscopy (n): visual examination of the ear canal and eardrum.
7. Otalgia (n) pain in the ear. The combining form ot/o means ear. The
suffix –algia means pain.
8. Deafness (n) is a partial or complete loss of hearing in one or both ears.
9. Tympanic (adj) referring to the eardrum. The combining form
Tympan/o means eardrum. The suffix –ic means referring to.
Tympanum – noun (eardrum)
10. Tympanoplasty (n) a surgical repair of the eardrum. The suffix
–plasty means a surgical repair.
11. Otorrhea (n) means any discharge from the ear.
12. Otopyorrhea (n) is the flow of pus from the ear. The combining
form py/o means pus. The suffix –rrhea means flow.
13. Tinnitus (n) ringing sound in the ear.
14. Otitis (n) an inflammation of the ear.
15. Labyrinthitis (n) is inflammation
of the labyrinth of the inner ear.
Labyrinth of the inner ear consists
of the vestibular apparatus which
contains the organs of balance.
16. Myringotomy (n) means an incision of the eardrum. The
suffix –tomy means to cut in.
17. Vertigo (n) is a false sensation of rotational movement
often combined with nausea and vomiting.