Eye and ear disorders

The bony socket that protects the eye and houses the extraocular muscles.

Six muscles that control eye movement, enabling it to look up, down, side to side, and rotate.

The tough, white outer layer of the eye that provides structural support.

A clear membrane covering the surface of the eye and inner surface of the eyelids, protecting and lubricating the eye.

The extraocular muscles are responsible for the movement of the eye in all directions. They control upward, downward, side to side, and rotational movement, ensuring that the eye can focus on targets in its field of vision.

The sclera acts as a tough outer layer that provides structural support and protection to the eye. It maintains the eye's shape and shields the delicate inner structures from injury.

The conjunctiva forms a protective barrier over the eye's surface and the inner eyelid. It secretes mucus to lubricate the eye, preventing dryness, and also contains immune cells to fight infection.

A serious condition where the retina tears away from the choroid, causing vision loss due to lack of blood supply.

Common causes include: high myopia (nearsightedness), aging, and scar tissue pulling on the retina.

Initially, patients may see floating spots. A darkened or blind area then develops, growing larger over time, like a dark curtain.

A common cause of vision loss in older people, affecting the central part of the retina, leading to blurred or lost central vision.

Dry AMD is more common and involves deposits destroying retinal cells. Wet AMD involves abnormal blood vessels leaking fluid, causing rapid damage.

This type of AMD is characterized by deposits in retinal cells, gradually damaging them.

This type involves new, leaky blood vessels forming in the retina, causing rapid damage.

For dry AMD, focus is on nutritional intake. For wet AMD, photodynamic therapy may help seal off leaky vessels.

A test used to diagnose AMD by evaluating the central and peripheral vision.

An inflammation or infection of the middle ear cavity, often caused by a buildup of fluid due to blocked Eustachian tube.

A blockage of the Eustachian tube, preventing drainage of fluid from the middle ear, contributing to otitis media.

A tearing of the eardrum, often caused by pressure from fluid buildup in the middle ear during otitis media.

Prolonged otitis media can lead to scar tissue and adhesions in the middle ear, interfering with sound transmission and causing hearing loss.

Swollen adenoids can compress the Eustachian tube, contributing to otitis media by hindering fluid drainage.

The ear is divided into three main sections: the external ear, middle ear, and inner ear, each playing a crucial role in hearing and balance.

The outermost part of the ear, consisting of the pinna and the external auditory canal, responsible for capturing and funneling sound waves.

A thin, flexible membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear, vibrating in response to sound waves.

A hollow space within the temporal bone containing the ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

The three tiny bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, and stapes), responsible for amplifying and transferring sound vibrations.

The smallest bone in the body, the stapes connects to the oval window, transmitting vibrations from the middle ear to the inner ear.

A canal connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx, helping to equalize pressure on both sides of the eardrum.

The innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea and semicircular canals filled with fluids (perilymph and endolymph) responsible for hearing and balance.

A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals.

Three fluid-filled loops in the inner ear that are responsible for detecting movement and maintaining balance.

The vibration of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) sets the three bones of the middle ear (malleus, incus, and stapes) into motion.

The stapes, the last bone in the middle ear, pushes against the oval window, a membrane-covered opening in the inner ear.

The stapes' movement against the oval window creates waves in the fluids of the inner ear, perilymph and endolymph, which transmit sound vibrations.

The organ of Corti, located in the cochlea, contains hair cells that convert the fluid waves into electrical signals.

Electrical signals from the hair cells in the organ of Corti travel along the auditory nerve to the brain.

The auditory area in the temporal lobe of the brain receives and interprets the sound information transmitted by the auditory nerve.

The crista ampullaris in the ampulla of each semicircular canal and the macula in the vestibule contain hair cells sensitive to endolymph movement due to head movement.

The vestibular branch of the auditory nerve carries signals about head position and movement from the semicircular canals and vestibule to the brain.

Vestibular damage can cause vertigo, a sensation of rotation of oneself or the environment.