Chapter 6 Special Sensory Organs: Eye and Ear 237 Intern Experience Debra is in the second week of her intern- ship with University Eye and Ear Specialists, Inc. Sofi a Rodriguez had called the offi ce as soon as it opened, expressing concern for her four-year-old son, Juan. At their designated appointment time, Debra greets Mrs. Rodriguez and her son in the waiting room and escorts them to an exam room. Mrs. Rodriguez appears fatigued. She states that she was awakened early that morning by her son’s anguished screams. She informs Debra that Juan’s face felt hot to the touch, and he was tugging at his left ear. Because Juan has had recurrent ear infections, Mrs. Rodriguez is worried about possible hearing loss. Debra notes the mother’s concerns in Juan’s chart, obtains his vital signs, and, using her laptop computer, electronically signals to the physi- cian that the patient is ready to be seen. To help you understand Juan’s health con- dition, this chapter will present word ele ments (combining forms, prefi xes, and suff ixes) that make up medical terminology related to the ear, the sensory organ that controls hearing and equilibrium (balance). You will also learn word elements and medical terminology related to the eye, the sensory organ of sight. Let’s begin our study with a brief anatomical and physiological overview of both the eye and the ear. We will cover major structures of these special sensory organs, along with their primary functions. Later in the chapter, you will learn about some common pathological conditions of the eye and ear, tests and procedures used to di- agnose those conditions, and common methods for treating them.