Introduction à l'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie

Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie (ORL) Introduction

• ORL is a medical and surgical specialty focusing on the ear, nose, throat, and related structures, including the base of the skull and neck.

Basic Anatomy

1. The Ear

• Divided into three parts:
  • External ear: includes the pinna and external auditory canal. Captures and directs sound waves to the eardrum.
  • Middle ear: contains tiny bones (malleus, incus, stapes) that transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.
  • Inner ear: includes the cochlea (hearing) and vestibule (balance).

2. The Nose

• Contains nasal cavities lined with mucous membranes, conditioning inhaled air by warming, humidifying it.
• Also includes paranasal sinuses (maxillary, frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal) which are air-filled cavities surrounding the nose.

3. The Throat (Pharynx & Larynx)

• Pharynx: a muscular tube that serves as a passageway for both air and food, divided into three sections (nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx).
• Larynx: the voice box, responsible for voice production (phonation) and protecting the airway. Contains vocal cords.

4. The Neck

• Contains vital structures such as salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, sublingual), thyroid and parathyroid glands, and cranial nerves involved in motor and sensory functions of the neck region.

Ear Diseases

1. External Otitis (Swimmer's Ear)

• Definition: Infection of the external ear canal.
• Causes: Excessive moisture, local trauma, bacterial or fungal infections.
• Symptoms: Severe pain, itching, discharge, hearing loss.
• Complications: Abscess, malignant external otitis in immunocompromised individuals.
• Treatment: Cleaning, topical antibiotics, antifungals.

2. Acute Otitis Media

• Definition: Infection of the middle ear.
• Causes: Bacterial infections (streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae).
• Symptoms: Ear pain, fever, hearing loss, bulging eardrum.
• Complications: Perforation of the eardrum, mastoiditis, meningitis.
• Treatment: Antibiotics, pain relievers, possible drainage.

3. Hearing Loss (Hypoacousia)

• Definition: Diminished ability to hear.
• Causes: Earwax, trauma, presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), otosclerosis.
• Symptoms: Difficulty hearing, tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
• Complications: Social isolation, cognitive problems.
• Treatment: Removing earwax, hearing aids, surgery.

Other Diseases

• Rhinitis Allergic (Hay fever): Allergic inflammation of nasal mucosa with symptoms like sneezing, nasal blockage, and runny nose.
• Acute Sinusitis: Infection of the paranasal sinuses.
• Pharyngitis (Throat infection): Acute infection of the pharynx
• Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx.
• Tonsillitis (tonsils infection): Inflammation of the tonsils.
• Cancer ORL: malignant tumors in the pharynx, larynx, and oral cavity (with causes like tobacco, alcohol, HPV).

Diagnostic Methods

• Interrogatory: Gathering patient history, including symptoms (e.g., pain, hearing loss, difficulty swallowing), medical history, allergies, and exposure to toxins.
• Clinical Exam: Physical examination, including ear, nose, and throat examination (e.g., ear scope, nasal examination, throat examination, examination of neck nodes).
• Complementary Tests: Audiometry (hearing test), imaging (e.g., CT scan, MRI) and lab tests (e.g., cytological and bacteriologic studies).

Treatment

• Medications: Antibiotics, corticosteroids, antihistamines, pain relievers.
• Surgery: Various surgeries depending on the diagnosis and severity of the condition.

Prevention & Education

• Avoidance of noise: Prolonged exposure to loud noises.
• Hygiene avoidance: Avoid sharing contaminated objects.
• Vaccination: Prevents infections (e.g., influenza, pneumococcal).
• Tobacco cessation: Prevents cancer.

Ce quiz aborde les fondamentaux de l'oto-rhino-laryngologie, en se concentrant sur l'anatomie de l'oreille, du nez et de la gorge. Découvrez les différentes parties de l'oreille, les cavités nasales, ainsi que la structure du pharynx et du larynx. Un bon point de départ pour comprendre cette spécialité médicale.