Basic Nursing Ch. 21 Definitions

Front 1

Accommodation

Back 1

adjustment, as the accommodation of the lens of the eye

Front 2

Aqueous Humor

Back 2

liquid that flows through the anterior and posterior eye chambers in the space between the cornea and the lens

Front 3

Astigmatism

Back 3

condition in which the eye cannot bring horizontal and vertical lines into focus at the same time, causing blurry vision, as a result of irregularities in the curvature of the cornea and lens

Front 4

Auricle

Back 4

flap of cartilage and skin that comprises the outer ear; external ear, pinna. A portion of the atrium of the heart. (Sometimes used to refer to entire atrium.)

Front 5

Cochlea

Back 5

snail-shaped organ of the inner ear; the essential organ of hearing

Front 6

Cones

Back 6

specialized neurons concentrated in the retina’s center that receive color, add visual acuity, and require a significant amount of light to function

Front 7

Conjunctiva

Back 7

transparent mucous membrane covering the anterior eye (front).

Front 8

Cornea

Back 8

the transparent front covering of the eye, as in corneal transplant

Front 9

Eustachian tube

Back 9

the passage from the throat to the middle ear; auditory tube

Front 10

Gustation

Back 10

sense of taste

Front 11

Hyperopia

Back 11

condition in which light rays focus behind the retina; farsightedness

Front 12

Incus

Back 12

the “anvil,” one of three tiny bones within the middle ear, which are set in motion by sound waves

Front 13

Iris

Back 13

pigmented section over the front of the eyeball that gives the eye its color.

Front 14

Labyrinth

Back 14

the inner ear, including the vestibule, cochlea, and semicircular canals.

Front 15

Lacriminal Gland

Back 15

pertaining to tears, as the lacrimal glands of the eyes

Front 16

Lens

Back 16

a transparent, crystalline eye structure that converges or scatters light rays before they focus as images on the retina

Front 17

Malleus

Back 17

protrusions where the lower ends of the tibia and fibula meet the ankle bones.

Front 18

Membranous Labyrinth

Back 18

set of tunnels and chambers in the inner ear

Front 19

Myopia

Back 19

nearsightedness; light rays focus in front of the retina

Front 20

Olfaction

Back 20

sense of smell

Front 21

Opthalmology

Back 21

medical specialty related to the study of the eye and vision

Front 22

Optic Disk

Back 22

eye region that is not light sensitive

Front 23

Orbit

Back 23

ball-shaped cavity in the skull that contains the eye

Front 24

Organ of Corti

Back 24

small but intricate organ in the inner ear where the transmission of nerve stimuli begins.

Front 25

Ossicle

Back 25

collectively, the three tiny bones in the middle ear (the malleus, incus, and the stapes) which are set in motion by sound waves

Front 26

Otology

Back 26

study of the anatomy and physiology of the ear and related disorders

Front 27

Pinna

Back 27

external ear; auricle

Front 28

Presbycusis

Back 28

hearing loss that occurs with aging

Front 29

Presbyopia

Back 29

farsightedness that occurs with aging

Front 30

Proprioceptor

Back 30

the sensation of body position in space. (Older people often lose proprioception.)

Front 31

Ptosis

Back 31

drooping or sagging of an organ or part from its normal position (usually refers to eyelid).

Front 32

Pupil

Back 32

black center of the eye that regulates the amount of light that enters it

Front 33

Retina

Back 33

the innermost tunic of the eyeball that contains rods and cones and is the origin of the optic nerve. Light rays focus at the retina in normal vision.

Front 34

Rods

Back 34

specialized neurons dispersed throughout the retina, suited to dim light and especially useful in night vision

Front 35

Sclera

Back 35

outer coating of the eyeball

Front 36

Semicircular Canal

Back 36

section of the inner ear that contains hair like nerve endings that respond to movement and control the sense of balance

Front 37

Stapes

Back 37

the “stirrup,” one of three tiny bones within the middle ear which are set in motion by sound waves

Front 38

Tinnitus

Back 38

ringing in the ears

Front 39

Tympanic Membrane

Back 39

Eardrum

Front 40

Vertigo

Back 40

sensation of rotation or movement of self (subjective vertigo) or surroundings (objective vertigo).(Not all dizziness is true vertigo.)

Front 41

Virteous Humor

Back 41

a transparent, gelatin-like material that fills the space behind the lens of the eye.