Otolaryngology or ENT (ear, nose and throat) is the branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders. The full name of the specialty is otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Practitioners are called otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons, or sometimes otorhinolaryngologists (ORL). Otolaryngology is one of the most competitive specialties to enter for physicians.
The term comes from the Classical Greek roots ὠτ- - ot- (root of οὖς) "ear", λαρυγγ- - laryng- (root of λάρυγξ) "larynx/throat", and the suffix -logy "study", and it literally means "the study of ear and neck".
The full term otorhinolaryngology (Neoclassical Greek and Modern Greek: ὠτο(ρ)ρινολαρυγγολογία), also includes ῥινο- - rhino- (root of ῥίς) "nose".
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Otolaryngologists are medical doctors (MD, DO, MBBS, MBChB, etc.) who, in the United States, complete at least five years of surgical residency training. This is composed of one year in general surgical training and four years in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery; in the past it varied between two and three years of each.
Following residency training some otolaryngologists elect to complete advanced subspeciality fellowship training which can be 1–2 years in duration (pediatric otolaryngology)[1], Neuro-otology, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rhinology or head and neck oncology.
(*Currently recognized by American Board of Medical Subspecialties)
| Head and Neck | Facial plastics | Otology | Neuro-otology* | Rhinology/Sinus | Laryngology | Pediatrics* | Sleep* |
| Surgical oncology | Facial cosmetic surgery | Ear | Middle and inner ear | Sinusitis | Voice therapy | VeloPalatine-Insufficiency | |
| Reconstruction | Maxillofacial | Hearing | Temporal bone | Allergy | Phono-surgery | Cleft Lip and Palate | |
| Endocrine surgery | Trauma | Skull base | Anterior skull base | Airway | |||
| Dizziness | Apnea and snoring | Vascular Malformations | |||||
| Cochlear Implant/BAHA |
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Rhinology pertains to sinus diseases and the anterior skull base.
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a one-year fellowship open to Otolaryngologists and Plastic Surgeons who wish to specialize in the aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the head, face, and neck. For further information see the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery [1]