Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEardrum AnatomyRuptured EardrumMiddle Ear InfectionsTympanosclerosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Eardrum Anatomy
Ruptured Eardrum
Middle Ear Infections
Tympanosclerosis
The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane ortympanum, is a thin layer of skin stretched tight like a drum in theear. The eardrum separates theexternal (outer) earfrom themiddle earand vibrates in response to sound waves.
The eardrum is part of a complex system that enables hearing and also protects the middle ear from debris and germs. The eardrum is vulnerable to infection and injury, the most common of which includes aruptured eardrum. Hearing loss and ear pain are common signs of an eardrum injury.
This article describes the anatomy and function of the eardrum. It also looks at conditions that affect the eardrum, including how they are diagnosed and treated.
Anatomy of the Eardrum
The eardrum. also referred to as themyringa, is a semi-transparent, cone-shaped membrane in theear canalthat is roughly the size of a dime in adults.
Its primary function is to transmit sound from the air to bones in the middle ear calledossicles. The vibration of the ossicles, in turn, causes the fluid-filledcochleaof the inner ear to vibrate. These impulses are finally delivered to the brain via thecochlear (auditory) nerve.
The eardrum is also protective of the middle ear, creating a barrier that prevents water, germs, debris, or parasites from entering and causing injury.
The eardrum is essential to hearing but is vulnerable to injury, infection, and diseases.
A ruptured eardrum, also known as a perforated eardrum, is a puncture or tear of the tympanic membrane. It is a relatively common injury affecting seven out of every 1,000 people at some point in their lives.
Causes
There are many reasons why eardrum perforation might occur, including:
Symptoms
A ruptured eardrum doesn’t always cause symptoms. There will almost invariably be some degree of hearing loss, but the impairment is often temporary.
Other symptoms may be more pronounced and disruptive, including:
Diagnosis
A ruptured eardrum can usually be identified with a physical examination of the ear using a lighted magnifying scope known as anotoscope.
To evaluate the degree of injury or hearing loss, other tests may be performed, including:
Treatments
Ruptured eardrums can often heal without treatment. Depending on the severity of the injury, healing can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
If the damage is severe, a surgery calledmyringoplastymay be performed to repair the damage. The surgeon can access the eardrum either through the ear canal (called a transcanal myringoplasty) or through an incision behind the ear (called a postauricular myringoplasty).
The surgery typically involves a tissue graft that acts as scaffolding for the tympanic membrane to grow back on. Myringoplasty takes between one and two hours and may involve eitherlocalorgeneral anesthesia.
There are two types of middle ear infections:
Middle ear infections are caused when one or both Eustachian tubes become blocked or when more fluids are produced than the Eustachian tubes can effectively drain.
Causes of this include:
The symptoms of AOM and SOM can be strikingly different, in part because AOM involves acuteinflammation—due to an infection while SOM is the aftermath of an infection.
With AOM, symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
Signs of AOM in babies include unusual irritability, difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, and tugging or pulling at one or both ears.
By contrast, SOM may not cause any notable symptoms in babies or young children. Older children or adults may complain of muffled hearing or a sensation of fullness in the ear.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The diagnosis of a middle ear infection involves the same tools used for a ruptured eardrum.
Depending on the severity, AOM may not require treatment other than an over-the-counternonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)like Advil (ibuprofen) to reduce swelling and pain.
If symptoms are severe, antibiotic eardrops may be prescribed. Oral antibiotics are rarely used.
Unless it is causing symptoms, SOM may not be treated and will usually resolve on its own. If there is significant hearing loss or fluids remain in the middle ear for more than eight weeks, a course ofantibioticsmay be prescribed.
Tympanosclerosisis the hardening and scarring of the tympanic membrane and middle ear. It occurs when an infection or injury causes the overproduction of collagen and the build-up of calcium in tissues. If only the eardrum is affected, it is calledmyringosclerosis.
Causes and Symptoms
Causes of tympanosclerosis include:
If the eardrums alone are involved, tympanosclerosis rarely causes notable symptoms. However, the hardening of tissues extends to the middle ear, there can be significant hearing loss along with chalky, white patches on the eardrum itself.
The diagnostic process for tympanosclerosis is the same as that used for a ruptured eardrum. If hearing loss occurs, ahearing aidmay be recommended. Surgery can be used to remove sclerosed (hardened) tissues, but the results are highly variable.
Summary
An eardrum (also known as myringa, tympanic membrane, or tympanum) is a thin tissue situated between the outer and middle ear. It is instrumental in transmitting sound from the air to the brain and protects the middle ear from debris and germs.
The eardrum is vulnerable to injury, including a ruptured eardrum, middle ear infections, and tympanosclerosis. Eardrum problems can usually be diagnosed with a non-invasive scope (called an otoscope) and diagnostic tests like an audiogram and tympanometry.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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