Eye and Ear
Learning Objectives
When completing this chapter, the learner will be able to do the following:
- Identify the anatomy of the eye and ear system
- Describe the main functions of the eye and ear
- Spell the eye and ear medical terms and use correct abbreviations
- Identify the medical specialties associated with the eye and ear (sight and sound)
- Explore common diseases, disorders, and procedures related to the eye and ear
Introduction
Two of the major senses are hearing and sight. However, these are not all of the senses. Within the realm of physiology, senses can be classified as either general or special. A general sense is one that is distributed throughout the body and has receptor cells within the structures of other organs. Mechanoreceptors in the skin, the muscles, or the walls of blood vessels are examples of this type. General senses often contribute to the sense of touch, which is most important to autonomic functions. A special sense is one that has a specific organ devoted to it—namely, the eye and inner ear.
