• Specialty
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  • Otolaryngology - ENT
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• Otolaryngology - ENT
  • Common ENT Terms
  • Ear Related Terms
  • Nose Related Terms
  • Rhinoplasty Terms
  • Throat Conditions
  • Sample Reports - Otolaryngology - ENT

• Common ENT Terms

- P -

• Palate

Roof of the mouth.



• Panendoscopy

Using telescopes to look in the nose, mouth, throat, and larynx.



• Panorex

An x-ray study in which the x-ray machine moves around the head in order to show the mandible and maxilla as well as all of the teeth.



• Papillomavirus

Group of viruses that can cause noncancerous wart-like tumors to grow on the surface of skin and internal organs such as the respiratory tract; can be life-threatening.



• Parathyroid

Tiny glands located in the neck, which produce a hormone known as parathyroid hormone that regulates the level of calcium in the blood. There are usually two glands on each side of the neck behind the thyroid but they may be in other locations in the neck and even in the chest.



• Parathyroid Hormone

A hormone produced by the parathyroid gland when the level of calcium in the blood gets low. Disorders of the parathyroid result in excessive production of parathyroid hormone and high levels of calcium in the blood.



• Parathyroidectomy

Removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands.



• Paresis

Partial paralysis, may be temporary



• Parosmia

Any disease or perversion of the sense of smell, especially the subjective perception of odors that do not exist.



• Parotid

One of the three major salivary glands that supply saliva to the mouth. These glands are located in front of the ears on both sides of the face and produce mucous that travels through a glands and empties into the mouth just opposite the upper teeth on each side. These glands swell up when a patient has viral infections (i.e. mumps).



• Parotidectomy

Removal of part or all of the parotid gland.



• Perception (Hearing)

The process of knowing or being aware of information through the ear.



• Perilymph

Fluid in the balance-controlling portion of the middle ear that flows with changing direction of the head, helping to maintain balance.



• Perilymph Fistula

Leakage of inner ear fluid to the middle ear that occurs without apparent cause or that is associated with head trauma, physical exertion, or barotrauma.



• Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Disorders characterized by delays in several areas of development that may include socialization and communication.



• Pheromones

Chemical substances secreted by an animal that elicit a specific behavioral or physiological response in another animal of the same species.



• Phonology

The study of speech sounds.



• Pinna (Auricle)

The portion of the ear that is visible from the outside, made up of cartilage and skin; it funnels sound into the ear canal and protects the rest of the ear



• Postlingually Deafened

An individual who becomes deaf after having acquired language.



• Prelingually Deafened

An individual who is either born deaf or who lost his or her hearing early in childhood, before acquiring language.



• Presbycusis

The loss of hearing that gradually occurs because of changes in the inner or middle ear in individuals as they grow older.



• Primary Tumor

The part of the body or organ where the cancer started to grow first.



• PTH

Parathyroid hormone.