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Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Biology of the Ears, Nose, and Throat
Symptoms of Ear Disorders
Symptoms of Nose and Throat Disorders
Hearing Loss and Deafness
Inner Ear Disorders

Middle Ear Disorders
Mouth and Throat Disorders
Mouth, Nose, and Throat Cancers
Nose and Sinus Disorders
Outer Ear Disorders

Primary care doctors often diagnose and treat disorders involving the ear, nose, and throat, but doctors called otolaryngologists or otorhinolaryngologists are the ones who specialize in such disorders. The ears, nose, and throat have separate but related functions. The ears and nose are sensory organs, which are necessary for the senses of hearing, balance, and smell. The throat mainly functions as a pathway through which food and fluids travel to the esophagus (the hollow tube that leads from the throat to the stomach) and air passes to the lungs.

Ear, Nose, and Throat DisordersSections (A-Z)

Biology of the Ears, Nose, and Throat

The ears, nose, and throat are located near each other and have separate but related functions.

Introduction to Biology of the Ears, Nose, and Throat
Ears
Nose and Sinuses
Throat
Effects of Aging on the Ears, Nose, and Throat

Hearing Loss and Deafness

More than 10% of people in the United States have some degree of hearing loss that affects their daily communication, making it the most common sensory disorder. The incidence increases with age. Although less than 2% of children under 18 have a permanent hearing loss (see Hearing Impairment in Children ), hearing loss during infancy and early childhood can be detrimental to language and social development. Over one third of people over 65 years and over half of people over age 75 are affected.

Hearing Loss
Sudden Hearing Loss
Management of Hearing Loss

Inner Ear Disorders

The fluid-filled inner ear (labyrinth) is a complex structure consisting of two major parts:

Overview of the Inner Ear
Acoustic Neuroma
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Ear Disorders Caused by Drugs
Herpes Zoster Oticus
Meniere Disease
Purulent Labyrinthitis
Vestibular Neuronitis

Middle Ear Disorders

The middle ear consists of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and an air-filled chamber containing a chain of three bones (ossicles) that connect the eardrum to the inner ear (see Middle Ear ). The middle ear acts as an amplifier of sound, whereas the inner ear acts as a transducer, changing mechanical sound waves into an electrical signal that is sent to the brain via the nerve of hearing (statoacoustic nerve).

Overview of the Middle Ear
Eardrum Perforation
Barotrauma of the Ear
Objects in the Ear
Myringitis
Otitis Media (Acute)
Otitis Media (Secretory)
Otitis Media (Chronic)
Mastoiditis

Mouth and Throat Disorders

Disorders of the throat (pharynx) and voice box (larynx) may represent short-lived (acute) inflammation and infections, persistent (chronic) inflammation, or abnormal growths that are more common among adults.

Introduction to Mouth and Throat Disorders
Epiglottitis
Laryngitis
Laryngoceles
Retropharyngeal Abscess
Salivary Gland Disorders
Submandibular Space Infection
Tonsillar Cellulitis and Tonsillar Abscess
Tonsillopharyngitis
Vocal Cord Polyps, Nodules, and Granulomas
Vocal Cord Contact Ulcers
Vocal Cord Paralysis

Mouth, Nose, and Throat Cancers

Cancers of the mouth, nose, and throat develop in almost 60,000 people in the United States each year. These cancers are more common among men, but the number of affected women is rising because smoking has increased among women. Most affected people are between the ages of 50 and 70. However, these cancers are occurring more often in younger people.

Overview of Mouth, Nose, and Throat Cancers
Laryngeal Cancer
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Mouth and Throat Cancer
Paranasal Sinus Cancer
Salivary Gland Cancer

Nose and Sinus Disorders

The upper part of the nose consists mostly of bone. The lower part of the nose gains its support from cartilage. Inside the nose is a hollow cavity (nasal cavity), which is divided into two passages by a thin sheet of cartilage and bone called the nasal septum. The bones of the face contain the paranasal sinuses, which are hollow cavities that open into the nasal cavity (see Nose and Sinuses ).

Introduction to Nose and Sinus Disorders
Bacterial Nasal Infections
Deviated Septum
Nasal Polyps
Objects in the Nose
Perforations of the Septum
Rhinitis
Sinusitis

Outer Ear Disorders

Dermatitis of the ear canal is itching, scaling, flaking, and swelling of the skin of the ear canal and skin at the entrance of the ear canal.

Dermatitis of the Ear Canal
Developmental Abnormalities of the Outer Ear
Ear Blockages
Ear Tumors
External Otitis (Swimmer's Ear)
Malignant External Otitis
Perichondritis

Symptoms of Ear Disorders

Earache (otalogia) usually occurs in only one ear. Some people also have ear discharge (see Ear Discharge ) or, rarely, hearing loss (see Hearing Loss ).

Earache
Ear Discharge
Ear Ringing or Buzzing
Dizziness and Vertigo

Symptoms of Nose and Throat Disorders

Some people get nosebleeds (epistaxis) rather often, and others rarely get them. There may be just a trickle of blood or a strong stream. If people swallow the blood, they often vomit it because blood is irritating to the stomach. Swallowed blood may pass through the digestive tract and appear in the stool as black tarry stools.

Nosebleeds
Nasal Congestion and Discharge
Neck Lump
Sore Throat
Overview of Smell and Taste Disorders
Loss of Smell

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Also of Interest

Test your knowledge

The ear, which is the organ of hearing and balance, consists of the outer, middle, and inner ear. Which of the following structures connects the middle ear to the airway in the back of the nose and helps maintain equal air pressure on both sides of the eardrum?

The cochlea The eustachian tube Ossicles The stapedius muscle