Clinical ENT Syllabus

ENT syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for ENT in Clinical, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Anatomy of the Ear

   3 topics

   • External Ear
     • Pinna
     • External Auditory Canal
     • Tympanic Membrane
   • Middle Ear
     • Ossicles (Malleus, Incus, Stapes)
     • Eustachian Tube
     • Middle Ear Cavity
   • Inner Ear
     • Cochlea
     • Vestibule
     • Semicircular Canals
2. 2

   Anatomy of the Nose

   2 topics

   • External Nose
     • Nasal Bones
     • Cartilages
     • Nasal Septum
   • Nasal Cavity
     • Nasal Mucosa
     • Turbinates
     • Paranasal Sinuses
3. 3

   Anatomy of the Throat

   2 topics

   • Pharynx
     • Nasopharynx
     • Oropharynx
     • Laryngopharynx
   • Larynx
     • Vocal Cords
     • Glottis
     • Epiglottis
4. 4

   Physiology of Hearing

   2 topics

   • Sound Transmission
     • Air Conduction
     • Bone Conduction
   • Auditory Pathway
     • Cochlear Nerve
     • Brainstem Nuclei
     • Auditory Cortex
5. 5

   Physiology of Balance

   2 topics

   • Vestibular System
     • Semicircular Canals
     • Otolith Organs (Utricle and Saccule)
   • Central Pathways
     • Vestibular Nuclei
     • Cerebellum
6. 6

   Common Ear Disorders

   3 topics

   • External Ear Disorders
     • Otitis Externa
     • Cerumen Impaction
     • Pinna Hematoma
   • Middle Ear Disorders
     • Otitis Media
     • Cholesteatoma
     • Otosclerosis
   • Inner Ear Disorders
     • Meniere's Disease
     • Labyrinthitis
     • Sensorineural Hearing Loss
7. 7

   Common Nose Disorders

   3 topics

   • Rhinitis
     • Allergic Rhinitis
     • Non-Allergic Rhinitis
   • Sinusitis
     • Acute Sinusitis
     • Chronic Sinusitis
   • Nasal Polyps
     • Etiology
     • Diagnosis
     • Management
8. 8

   Common Throat Disorders

   3 topics

   • Pharyngitis
     • Viral Pharyngitis
     • Bacterial Pharyngitis
   • Tonsillitis
     • Acute Tonsillitis
     • Chronic Tonsillitis
   • Laryngitis
     • Acute Laryngitis
     • Chronic Laryngitis
9. 9

   Diagnostic Procedures in ENT

   3 topics

   • Audiometry
     • Pure Tone Audiometry
     • Speech Audiometry
   • Imaging Techniques
     • CT Scan
     • MRI
   • Endoscopy
     • Nasal Endoscopy
     • Laryngoscopy
10. 10

    Surgical Procedures in ENT

    3 topics

    • Ear Surgeries
      • Myringotomy
      • Tympanoplasty
      • Cochlear Implantation
    • Nose Surgeries
      • Septoplasty
      • Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)
    • Throat Surgeries
      • Tonsillectomy
      • Adenoidectomy
      • Microlaryngoscopy

ENT flashcards for Clinical

20 of 57 cards from the ENT deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three anatomical divisions of the ear?

   The external ear (auricle + external auditory canal), the middle ear (tympanic cavity with the ossicles), and the inner ear (cochlea + vestibular apparatus).

2. External Ear: What forms the framework of the auricle (pinna), and what is the one part that lacks cartilage?

   The auricle is supported by elastic cartilage covered by skin. The lobule (earlobe) is the only part that contains no cartilage — it is fibrofatty tissue.

3. External Ear: What is the approximate length of the adult external auditory canal, and what glands does its cartilaginous outer third contain?

   About $2.5\ \text{cm}$ long. The outer cartilaginous third contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and ceruminous glands (modified apocrine glands that produce cerumen/earwax).

4. External Ear: What is the sensory (pain) nerve supply of the external auditory canal — clinically relevant for referred otalgia?

   Auriculotemporal nerve (branch of CN V3), the auricular branch of the vagus (Arnold's nerve, CN X), and contributions from CN VII and the great auricular nerve (C2-C3). This is why ear pain can be referred from throat/teeth.

5. External Ear: In which direction is the pinna pulled to straighten the canal for otoscopy in an adult versus in a child?

   Adult: pull the pinna up and back (posterosuperiorly). Child/infant: pull down and back (posteroinferiorly), because the canal is straighter and more horizontal.

6. Middle Ear: Name the three auditory ossicles in order from the tympanic membrane to the oval window.

   Malleus (hammer) → Incus (anvil) → Stapes (stirrup). The malleus handle attaches to the tympanic membrane; the stapes footplate sits in the oval window.

7. Middle Ear: What are the two muscles of the middle ear, their innervation, and their function?

   Tensor tympani (attaches to malleus, innervated by CN V3) and stapedius (attaches to stapes, innervated by CN VII). Both contract reflexively to dampen loud sounds (acoustic reflex), protecting the inner ear.

8. Middle Ear: What is the function of the Eustachian (pharyngotympanic) tube, and where does it open?

   It equalizes middle-ear pressure with atmospheric pressure and drains the middle ear. It connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx and opens during swallowing/yawning (via tensor veli palatini).

9. Middle Ear: Why are children more prone to otitis media than adults, based on Eustachian tube anatomy?

   In children the Eustachian tube is shorter, wider, and more horizontal, allowing easier reflux of nasopharyngeal secretions/pathogens into the middle ear and impairing drainage.

10. Middle Ear: What structure passes through the middle ear and is at risk during ear surgery, carrying taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

    The chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII). It crosses the medial surface of the tympanic membrane between the malleus and incus.

11. Inner Ear: Distinguish the bony labyrinth from the membranous labyrinth and the fluids each contains.

    The bony labyrinth is the outer canal in the temporal bone containing perilymph (high $\text{Na}^{+}$, low $\text{K}^{+}$). Inside it, the membranous labyrinth contains endolymph (high $\text{K}^{+}$, low $\text{Na}^{+}$).

12. Inner Ear: What is the sensory organ of hearing, and on which membrane does it sit?

    The organ of Corti (spiral organ), which sits on the basilar membrane within the cochlear duct (scala media). It contains inner and outer hair cells.

13. Inner Ear: Name the three fluid-filled scalae of the cochlea and the fluid in each.

    Scala vestibuli (perilymph, from oval window), scala media / cochlear duct (endolymph), and scala tympani (perilymph, ends at round window). Scala media is bounded by Reissner's membrane above and the basilar membrane below.

14. Inner Ear: What is the tonotopic organization of the cochlea (place principle)?

    The base of the cochlea (stiff, narrow basilar membrane) responds to high frequencies; the apex (wide, floppy) responds to low frequencies. Frequency is coded by the place of maximal basilar membrane displacement.

15. Inner Ear: What is the endocochlear potential and why is it important?

    A resting potential of about $+80\ \text{mV}$ in the endolymph (scala media), generated by the stria vascularis pumping $\text{K}^{+}$. It increases the driving force for $\text{K}^{+}$ into hair cells during transduction, boosting cochlear sensitivity.

16. External Nose: Which bones and cartilages form the external nose framework?

    Bony part: nasal bones + frontal processes of the maxillae. Cartilaginous part: lateral (upper) nasal cartilages, major (lower/alar) cartilages, and the septal cartilage.

17. External Nose: What is the arterial anastomosis on the anteroinferior nasal septum responsible for most anterior nosebleeds?

    Kiesselbach's plexus (Little's area), an anastomosis of the anterior ethmoidal, sphenopalatine, greater palatine, and superior labial arteries. It causes ~90% of epistaxis (anterior bleeds).

18. Nasal Cavity: Name the three nasal conchae (turbinates) and note which bone the superior and middle arise from versus the inferior.

    Superior, middle, and inferior conchae. The superior and middle conchae are parts of the ethmoid bone; the inferior concha is a separate (independent) bone.

19. Nasal Cavity: Which paranasal sinuses drain into the middle meatus?

    The frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, and anterior + middle ethmoidal air cells all drain into the middle meatus (largely via the semilunar hiatus / osteomeatal complex).

20. Nasal Cavity: Where do the sphenoid sinus, posterior ethmoid cells, and nasolacrimal duct drain?

    Sphenoid sinus → sphenoethmoidal recess. Posterior ethmoidal cells → superior meatus. Nasolacrimal duct → inferior meatus.

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