Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

To view the ear canal and eardrum, an

otoscopemay be used. To obtain images

of the middle and inner ears, X-rays, CT

scanning, or MRImay be carried out.

Hearing and balance can be assessed

by means of hearing testsor caloric

tests. Electronystagmographyassesses

balance by watching eye movements

when water is inserted into the ear.

ear, foreign body inForeign bodies

can easily enter the ear canal. Children

often insert objects into their ears, and

insects may crawl or fly in. Objects in

the ear must be removed by a doctor.

This can be done by syringing of the ear

or by using fine-toothed forceps. Insects

can sometimes be floated out with olive

oil or lukewarm water.

ear, nose, and throat surgerySee

otorhinolaryngology.

ear piercingMaking a hole in the ear-

lobe or another part of the external ear

to accommodate an earring.

ears, pinning back ofSee otoplasty.

earwaxA yellow or brown secretion,

also called cerumen, produced byglands

in the outer ear canal. Some people

produce so much wax that it regularly

obstructs the canal. Excess earwax may

produce a sensation of fullness in the

ear and partial deafness. Prolonged

blockage may irritate the canal.

Wax that causes blockage or irritation

may come out after being softened with

oil. Otherwise, it should be removed by

a doctor. This is usually done, after wax

is softened, by syringing of the ears.

eating disordersIllnesses character-

ized by obsessions with weight and

body image. Eating disorders are most

common in young adolescent females

but can affect males. In anorexia ner-

vosa, patients, despite being painfully

thin, perceive themselves as fat and

starve themselves. Binge-eating follow-

ed by self-induced vomiting is a major

feature of bulimia, although, in this dis-

order, weight may be normal. Both

conditions may occur together. In mor-

bid obesity, there is a constant desire to

eat large quantities of food.

Ebola feverA dangerous and highly

contagious viral infection that causes

severe haemorrhagingfrom the skin

and mucous membranes. Ebola fever

occurs predominantly in Africa. There is

no specific treatment for the disease,

which is fatal in many cases.

ecchymosisThe medical term for a

bruisethat is visible through the skin.

eccrine glandA type of sweat gland.

ECGThe abbreviation for electrocardio-

graphy, a method of recording the

electrical activity of the heartmuscle.

EAR, FOREIGN BODY IN ECG

E

ECG

Technician

Trace

ECG

machine

Electrode