Introduction to Biology Ear, Nose and Throat

Last update 28 - June - 2021

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Placed ears, nose and throat near each other, and although each function independently, but those jobs are linked to each other in one way or another.

• The nose

It is the olfactory organ and the main passageway that passes air to and from the lungs. The nose humidifies, warms, and purifies the air before it enters the lungs. The nose consists of two parts: the upper part of the bones, and the lower part of the cartilage. The nasal cavity is lined with a mucous membrane rich in blood vessels. Of cases that help air heating and moistened faster is to increase the internal surface area of the nose and rich in blood vessels. Cells in the mucosa produce mucus and have tiny capillary projections (cilia). It helps mucus to capture dust particles, and then the cilia mucous cells move it to the front of the nose or throat of being removed from the respiratory tract. This procedure helps to purify the air before reaching the lungs. Sneezing also helps clear the nasal passages in response to irritation, as does coughing, which cleans the lungs.

• Larynx (throat)

It is the passage through which foods and liquids pass into the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat and the stomach), and air passes through it to the lungs.

It is the passage through which foods and liquids pass into the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat and the stomach), and air passes through it to the lungs. The throat (pharynx) is located behind the mouth, below the nasal cavity, and above the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the pharynx, stomach and windpipe called the trachea. It consists of the nasal pharynx, which is located at the top. Pharynx - oral - which is located part middle, hypopharynx, which is located at the bottom. The pharynx is a muscular passage through which food passes into the esophagus and air also passes through it to the lungs. Like the nose and mouth, the pharynx is lined with a mucous membrane that is formed from mucus-producing cells from which capillary cilia appear. When dust particles become trapped in the mucus, these cilia carry them into the esophagus and are swallowed.

• The ear

It is the sensory organ through which we can hear, which represents the organ of hearing and balance in the body, and it consists of the outer, middle and inner ear. The outer, middle and inner ear work together to convert sound waves into nerve impulses that are transmitted to the brain, where they are interpreted as sounds The inner ear also helps maintain balance.

Main ear parts:

The outer ear:

The outer ear consists of the outer part of the external auditory canal (the external auditory meatus) and the ear (the pinna). The pinna consists of cartilage covered with skin and its shape helps it capture sound waves and direct them toward the auditory canal and the tympanic membrane, which is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the inner ear. The ear canal or auditory canal or meatus is a tube that passes from the outer ear to the middle ear. The length of the canal from the pinna to the eardrum in an adult human is about 2.5 cm and 0.7 cm in diameter.

The middle ear:

It is a cavity located behind the tympanic membrane and connected to the pharyngeal cavity by the Eustachian tube, which is responsible for equalizing the atmospheric pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane. The middle ear consists of the ear drum and a small chamber filled with air, and The middle ear contains the three hearing bones (the hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup). The malleus bone is connected directly to the eardrum. The incus is the middle bone between the malleus bone and the stirrup bone that connects to the oval window, a thin membrane at the entrance to the inner ear. The auditory ossicles mechanically amplify the vibrations of the eardrum and transmit them to the oval window.



The middle ear also contains small muscles, including:

- The first muscle is called The malleus muscle or the tensor of the tympanic membrane: its work is the tension of this membrane by drawing the grip of the hammer inward, and it helps to control and protect the ear.
- The second muscle is called Stirrup muscle: It is the smallest muscle in the body that works to attract passengers back to reduce their vibration when exposed to strong sounds ,This is done by contraction of these muscles when you hear a loud, which limits the movement of auditory ossicles and thus ease the intensity of sound and This response, known as the auditory reflex, protects the inner ear from the damage that has been inflicted by the intense sounds.

Inner ear:

The inner ear represents a group of passages that are intricately structured, and it includes many minute structures interconnected with each other and it is called the bony labyrinth. It is created from a bony labyrinth surrounding a smaller membranous labyrinth and between them there is a fluid of a distinct composition.
The inner ear consists of three main parts:

• The vestibule, which is the organ responsible for balance.
• The cochlea, which is the organ responsible for hearing.
• The semi-circular channels.

Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases

Otitis media:

Overview

Otitis media is a common disease of the middle ear. Children are more susceptible to ear infections than adults. It is the air-filled space that lies behind the eardrum and contains the bones of the small ear vibratory. Some of the cases of ear infection are gone without taking medication for them, and the treatment was done by controlling the pain and monitoring the problem. Sometimes antibiotics were used to treat this disease and reduce the spread of infection. Signs and symptoms of an ear infection usually appear quickly.

Symptoms that appear in children include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Earache, severe when lying down
• Crying more than usual
• Irritability
• Loss of balance
• Slow response to sounds
• Fever of 38°C or more
• Fluid coming out of the ear
• Anorexia



Common signs and symptoms in adults include:

• Ear pain
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fluid coming out of the ear
• Hearing problem



Treatment of otitis media:

• In the case of inflammation was simple or viral, you need to monitor the child and see a doctor must constantly go away until this inflammation.
• In the event of inflammation frequently and is getting worse with time, and is accompanied by severe symptoms, the patient needs treatment in this case, and the doctor will dispense antibiotics to him in the case was the cause of inflammation bacteria, and these antibiotics are either orally or injections, and should not be stopped from The child should take the antibiotic until the course of treatment is completed, even if there is an improvement in the condition.
• If you have otitis media due to an allergy, decongestant or antihistamine ear drops may help relieve the symptoms of this infection.
• In the event of failure to respond to antibiotic treatment, the doctor, in severe cases, makes a hole in the eardrum to allow the pus fluid accumulated to exit from the ear.



Prevention of otitis media:

• Maintaining cleanliness of the ears and personal hygiene.
• Drying ears thoroughly after bathing.
• Stay away from smoking.



Allergic Rhinitis:

Overview

Which represents inflammation of the membranes lining the nose, and it occurs when inhaling one of the substances that the patient is affected by and allergic to. A group of symptoms appear within minutes of exposure to these substances, and these symptoms affect sleep, and the ability to focus.

The causes of these allergies:

• The genetic factor, as if one of the relatives such as the father, mother or brother is affected, the possibility of allergy is great.
• Pollen is the main cause of injury to allergic rhinitis, and when the wind blows and these grains spread in the air, and in hot and dry weather, the prevalence of symptoms in these atmospheres increases in contrast to the humidity and cold and rainy weather in which symptoms appear very little, and these symptoms vary from One person to another and from one region to another.
• Touching or inhaling allergens in the surrounding environment, such as pet hair, dust, mold, some types of smoke or odors.



Symptoms of allergic rhinitis:

• Sneezing
• Severe itching in the eyes, nose, mouth, throat and skin
• Nominated and stuffy nose
• Coughing
• Puffiness under the eyes
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Watery, red or swollen eyes



Treatment of allergic rhinitis:

Nasal allergies are treated by relieving symptoms, not treating allergies themselves, and includes:

Home treatment:

• Use a saline solution to wash the nose if the symptoms are mild, and it can be made manually at home or purchased from the pharmacy
• Close the windows tightly in the house and the car, not to go to the gardens and orchards in the spring and early summer season
• Do not approach animals that cause allergies such as cats, horses and birds
• Reducing the percentage of dust in the house, which flies in the air, so the infected person inhales it and begins to show symptoms of allergy on it



Medicinal treatment :

• It is taken on prescription from a doctor



Sore throat in children:

Overview

Sore throat is one of the most common diseases in children, and it is represented by a feeling of dryness in the throat or a feeling of pain and difficulty in swallowing. In some cases, sore throats go away without medical intervention, and in some other cases, tests must be done; To find out if the child needs antibiotics.

Causes of sore throat in children:

• Viruses that cause cold or flu do not need antibiotic treatment, and some cases are caused by bacteria, such as: Streptococcus bacteria
• Allergy (allergic rhinitis)
• Inhalation of cold air
• Surrounding the child in a polluted environment, such as exposure to second-hand smoke



Symptoms of a sore throat in children:

If the inflammation is caused by an allergy or by a viral infection, the symptoms associated with it:

• Coughing and sneezing, runny nose
• Teary eyes
• Pain in the body
• Low body temperature below 38°C



If the sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection the symptoms are as follows:

• Red and swollen tonsils with white patches or pus
• Low body temperature below 38°C
• Vomiting and nausea
• Severe headache, or body aches
• Skin rash



Treatment of sore throat in children:

• Some cases do not need medication, they improve on their own within a period ranging between one and two weeks
• The use of antibiotics will not help in the case of sore throat infection caused by a virus, or in the case of irritation from the air; In this case, it causes harm to children and adults alike
• Doctors prescribe antibiotics if the child has a sore throat due to a bacterial infection caused by streptococcus bacteria; Where this treatment prevents rheumatic fever. The child must stay at home for one day after starting the use of the antibiotic, taking into account drinking warm fluids



Prevention of sore throat in children:

• Teaching the child how to clean well, such as: washing hands, using tissues while sneezing, and coughing
• Stay away from people who suffer from sore throats, colds, or other upper respiratory infections, and stay away from smokers
• The child is not exposed to cold air in winter and early spring