Ear, Nose, Throat and Oral Health Terms
Hearing, sinuses, the throat, voice, mouth, teeth, and oral health. Browse definitions and meanings below.
What is otolaryngology?
Otolaryngology is the specialty covering the ear, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck. The name is built from three Greek roots, oto for ear, rhino for nose and laryngo for the voice box, which is why nearly everyone shortens it to ENT.
These structures are grouped together because they are physically connected. The middle ear drains into the throat through a narrow tube, which is why a cold can dull hearing. The sinuses open into the nose. The voice box sits at the top of the airway, where breathing, swallowing and speech share one space.
Terms in this topic
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Acoustic describes anything related to sound waves or hearing, including diagnostic tests, medical devices, and conditions that affect how sound is perceived.
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A genetic condition in which tumors form on the nerves of the inner ear and cause loss of hearing and balance.
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An uncommon gland cancer known for creeping along nerves and for returning many years after treatment.
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The combined organs and tissues of the respiratory tract and the upper part of the digestive tract (including the lips, mouth, tongue, nose, throat, vocal cords, and part of the esophagus and…
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Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused by Aspergillus mold that most often affects the lungs, particularly in people with a weakened immune system.
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An autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland (a gland located beneath the larynx).
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Two opposing divisions, one for action and one for rest, keep heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion balanced without any conscious effort.
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Bone acts as the bank: when blood levels dip, hormones withdraw calcium from the skeleton rather than let the level drift.
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No blood supply and no nerves: cartilage neither heals well nor hurts directly, so joint pain comes from the structures around it.
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It replaces the root rather than the visible tooth, and everything above the gum line simply attaches to what is anchored in bone.
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Much of the job is spotting disease early, from decay and gum inflammation to the first signs of oral cancer.
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Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or the axillary lymph nodes.
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A term used to describe cancer that is early in its growth, and may not have spread to other parts of the body.
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Vitamin D2, produced by shining ultraviolet light on yeast or mushrooms, and the one form of vitamin D the body cannot make.
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A type of paranasal sinus (a hollow space in the bones around the nose).
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Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent decay, delivered through water, toothpaste, and dental treatments.
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The air space behind the eyebrows that nobody is born with, and the one whose shape is distinctive enough to identify a person.
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The tissue of the upper and lower jaws that surrounds the base of the teeth.
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Glossectomy removes part or all of the tongue, most often to treat cancer arising from the tongue's tissue.
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The middle part of the larynx; the area where the vocal cords are located.