The Olfactory System

Sense of Smell

Can you smell the roses?

Odor particles drift into your nose and cause

your smell receptors to send messages to your

brain.

But when you are sick, it’s another story

Inflamed membranes will not allow the odor particles to reach the

olfactory bulb.

What did you say?

The Ear

Bugs can get in your ears, believe it or not.

All you have to do if the bug is alive pour a few

alcohol drops in the ear. If it comes out

good, if not go to the doctor.

The normal tympanic

membrane is thin and semi-

transparent. 

Wax, or cerumen, is a normal secretion in the cerumenous glands in the outer part of the

meatus, and can obscure or partially obscure the drum. 

Acute middle ear infection with effusion.

The handle of the malleus is obscured, and fluid levels are obvious behind the

drum.

Acute otitis media with no

recognizable landmarks.

Appearance of serous

(secretory) otitis media.

Fluid behind the ear drum in an asymptomatic

child.

Resolution of middle ear effusion. The

handle of the malleus is still

foreshortened and the horizontal.

Serous otitis media. There is in drawing of a dull ear drum and the handle of

the malleus is characteristically

horizontal.

Tympanosclerosis. In some cases of otitis

media healing may not be completed and the inflammatory process leads to the formation

of scar tissue.

Central perforation of the ear drum. Perforations are

usually single but may be multiple.

Grommet – tympanostomy tube. Grommets can be inserted in the tympanic

membrane if medical treatment and myringotomy are unsuccessful and the

child has persistent middle ear effusion.

The End