Ear Tubes Glossary of Terms

1. Anatomy of an Ear Infection Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Ear Infection Quiz
3. Tinnitus (Ringing of the Ears) Slideshow Pictures

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before sur...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Apnea: The absence of breathing (respiration).

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Cerebral: Of or pertaining to the cerebrum or the brain.

Cerebral palsy: An abnormality of motor function (the ability to move and control movement...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Congestion: An abnormal or excessive accumulation of a body fluid. The term is used broadl...

Developmental delay: A condition in which a child is behind schedule in reaching milestone...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

Ear drum: See: Eardrum.

Ear tubes: Formally known as tympanostomy tubes, ear tubes are small tubes, made of severa...

Eardrum: The tympanic membrane of the ear, or tympanum. The eardrum separates the middle e...

Eustachian tube: The tube that runs from the middle ear to the pharynx. The function of th...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease or trait, appears in a pa...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inner ear: A highly complex structure whose essential component for hearing is the membran...

Insertion: A chromosome abnormality that is due to insertion of a segment from one chromos...

Lymphoid: Referring to lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, or to tissue in which lymp...

Lymphoid tissue: The part of the body's immune system that is important for the immune res...

Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Middle ear: A part of the ear that consists of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and, beyond...

Myringotomy: A surgically placed tiny incision in the eardrum. Any fluid behind the eardr...

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

Operating room: A facility that is equipped for performing surgery. Abbreviated OR.

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

Otitis: Inflammation of the ear. Depending upon which part of the ear is inflammed, there ...

Otitis media: Inflammation of the middle ear characterized by the accumulation of infected...

Otolaryngologist: A physician specialized in diagnosing and treating diseases of the head ...

Otolaryngology: A medical and surgical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, management,...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Palate: The roof of the mouth. The front portion is bony (hard palate), and the back porti...

Palsy: Paralysis, generally partial, whereby a local body area is incapable of voluntary m...

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

Polyp: A mass of tissue that develops on the inside wall of a hollow organ, such as the co...

Preoperative: Before surgery. As opposed to postoperative, after surgery.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid that results from the accumulation of white blood cells...

Residual: Something left behind. With residual disease, the disease has not been eradicate...

Resolution: In genetics, the degree of molecular detail on a physical map of DNA. Resoluti...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Tympanostomy tube: A small plastic tube inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle ...

Ventilation: The exchange of air between the lungs and the atmosphere so that oxygen can ...