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antihistamine
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medication that relieves allergy symptoms, including stuffy nose and watery eyes
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barotrauma
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trauma that occurs when the air pressure in the middle ear does not equalize with ambient pressure
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benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
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a condition of the inner ear where otoliths migrate into the inner ear fluid, causing a false sense of spinning
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cerumenolytic
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a medication that softens and loosens ear wax to ease removal
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cochlear nerve
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one of two bifurcated nerves branching from the vestibulocochlear nerve; it transmits signals from the cochlea to the temporal lobe in the brain so sound can be heard
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decongestant
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a medication that shrinks swollen blood vessels and tissues in the nose to reduce nasal congestion and aid in relieving ear congestion
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eardrum
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a thin flap that separates the external or outer ear and middle ear; it vibrates to sound, which initiates an intricate relay throughout the ear structures traversing from the bones of the middle ear to the inner ear’s cochlea where hearing occurs; also known as the tympanic membrane
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Eustachian tube
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connects the middle ear to the nasal-sinus cavity
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external auditory canal
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path from the external ear to the middle ear
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incus
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one of three small bones in the middle ear; it transmits vibrations from the malleus to the stapes
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malleus
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one of three small bones in the middle ear; it is located closest to the tympanic membrane and transmits auditory oscillations to the incus
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Ménière’s disease
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occurs when fluid accumulates in the inner ear, which can be triggered by allergies, head injury, migraine headache; or viral infection; characterized by vertigo and hearing loss
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ossicles
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three small bones in the middle ear, consisting of the malleus, incus, and stapes, that transmit oscillatory vibrations from one small bone to another; the stapes sends sound to the inner ear in a highly coordinated relay system
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otitis externa
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inflammation and/or infection of the external ear canal characterized by itchiness, pain, and a red ear canal
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otitis media
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an inflammation or infection of the middle ear; also known as swimmer’s ear
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otolith
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a calcium carbonate crystal that normally resides in the base of the semicircular canal that can dislodge into the semicircular canal fluid and lead to bouts of vertigo
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stapes
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one of three small bones in the middle ear; it moves fluid into the cochlea in the inner ear
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tinnitus
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an ear disorder characterized by ringing or other annoying sounds in the ear
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tympanic cavity
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an air-filled compartment separated from the external ear by the tympanic membrane; it communicates with the pharynx via the Eustachian tube
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vestibular nerve
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one of two bifurcated nerves branching from the vestibulocochlear nerve; it controls motion and position
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vestibulocochlear nerve
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the eighth cranial nerve, which transmits sound from the inner ear to the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe of the brain.