Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures are episodes of movement, sensation, or behaviors that are similar to epileptic seizures but do not have a neurologic origin; rather, they are somatic manifestations of psychologic distress. Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures frequently are misdiagnosed and treated for epilepsy. Video-electroencephalography monitoring is preferred for diagnosis. From 5 to 10 percent of outpatient epilepsy patients and 20 to 40 percent of inpatient epilepsy patients have psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.
Unformatted text preview: 373. Explain the function of the auditory tube. The function of the auditory tube ( Eustachian tube ) is to maintain equal air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane, which is necessary for normal hearing. 374. Distinguish between the osseous and the membranous labyrinths.
The eustachian tubes are tiny tubes that run between the back of the throat and the middle ear (the part of the ear behind the ear drum). The function of the eustachian tubes is to drain fluid from the middle ear into the throat and also to equalize the pressure behind the ear drum. Sometimes, the eustachian tubes become inflamed and do not function properly. The most common cause of eustachian tube dysfunction is a viral infection like the common cold.