This document defines common medical terms and abbreviations related to the special senses: PE tubes are small plastic or metal tubes surgically inserted into the eardrum to allow air into the middle ear after ear infections. EENT refers to the eye, ear, nose and throat. BC is the conduction of sound waves through the skull's bones. AU refers to both ears. OM is an inflammation of the middle ear lining that often occurs after infections. EM describes perfect vision with light focused exactly on the retina. XT is a condition where the eyes are turned outward instead of being aligned. EOM refers to eye movements controlled by cranial nerves. VA is the sharpness of vision, often tested using a Snellen

1. Medical Terms and
Abbreviations
Special Senses
By Nina Ruscheva

2. • Pressure equalizing tube – PE tube
• Eye, ear, nose and throat – EENT
• Bone conduction – BC
• Both ears – AU
• Otitis media – OM
• Emmetropia – EM
• Exotropia – XT
• Extraocular movement – EOM
• Visual acuity – VA
• Left eye - OS

3. Pressure Equalizing Tube - PE
PE tubes are small
plastic or metal tubes
that are surgically
inserted into the
eardrum. They allow
air to get into the
middle ear when fluid
behind the eardrum
that doesn’t go away
after an ear infection .

4. Eye, ear, nose and throat - EENT

5. Bone conduction - BC
Conduction of sound
waves to the inner
ear through the
bones of the skull.
BC is the reason why
one hears his/her
own voice differently
when recorded.

6. Both ears - AU

7. Otitis Media – OM
Otitis media is an inflammation of the lining
of the middle ear. Upon infection, the
Eustachian tube is often blocked:
• lining swells from inflammation, which
narrows the transport mechanisms stop;
• inflammatory mucus is more abundant and
thicker than usual - hardly drains and
hardens at hole of the tube;
• the external opening of the Eustachian tube
often closes by the swollen nasopharyngeal
tonsil.

8. Emmetropia – EM
Emmetropia refers to
a condition of perfect
vision and parallel
rays are focused
exactly on the retina.

9. Exotropia - XT
Exotropia is a
condition in which the
two eyes are not
lined up in the same
direction and are
turned outwards.

10. Extraocular Movement – EOM
Eye movements are controlled by
muscles with signals coming from the
cranial nerves III, IV and VI.

11. Visual Acuity – VA
Visual acuity refers to the sharpness
and clarity of vision. A Snellen chart
is usually used to test a patient’s
visual acuity.

12. Left eye - OS