Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocationFunctionConditionsTreatments

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Location

Function

Conditions

Treatments

This article will go over the anatomy and function of the eustachian tube. You will also learn about conditions that can affect the auditory tube.

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Where Is the Eustachian Tube?

The eustachian tube is located in a part of the head and neck called theparapharyngealspace. It runs from the front wall of the middle ear to the side wall of the top part of the throat (nasopharynx).

In adults, the eustachian tube slopes down about 35 degrees. In children, the eustachian tube only slopes about 10 degrees down.

The eustachian tube is made of bone, cartilage, and fibrous tissue. It is a hollow tube that is lined with microscopic, hair-like projections (cilia) that sweep mucus away from the middle ear toward the nasopharynx.

There are six muscles that help the eustachian tube open and close. The muscles are located in the ear, head, neck, soft palate, and jaw.

What Does the Eustachian Tube Do?

Each eustachian tube usually stays closed to act as a barrier to protect the ear.However, they will open when the muscles contract—for example, when a person is yawning and swallowing.

When the air pressure changes outside, the eustachian tube opens to allow air to move from the bac of the nose to the middle ear. This ensures the pressure can equalize on both sides of the eardrum.

To keep the middle ear working right, the space around the tubes needs to be free of fluid and other debris. The cilia and mucosal folds in the eustachian tube work together to drain the mucus that is made in the middle of the ear.

How to Drain Fluid From the Middle Ear

Conditions That Affect the Eustachian Tube

Eustachian Tube Blockage

If a eustachian tube is blocked, it makes the pressure in the ear canal and middle ear unequal. This can cause symptoms such as fullness in the ears, reduced hearing, andear pain. The pressure can also cause a ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus).

Why Kids Get More Ear Infections Than AdultsIn children, the eustachian tubes are more horizontal than they are in adults. This makes it harder for nasal secretions to drain and is one reason why kids tend to get more ear infections than adults do.

Why Kids Get More Ear Infections Than Adults

In children, the eustachian tubes are more horizontal than they are in adults. This makes it harder for nasal secretions to drain and is one reason why kids tend to get more ear infections than adults do.

Can You Get an Ear Infection If You Have Ear Tubes?

Patulous Eustachian Tube

In most people, the eustachian tubes open without a problem whenever the air pressure changes, such as when flying in an airplane or diving underwater. However, in some people, the tubes have a harder time equalizing the pressure. As a result, people may have temporary ear pain when they are in these situations.

Patulous eustachian tubeis when a eustachian tube stays open longer than usual. It can cause a feeling of pressure in the ears. People can also experience a distortion in the sound of their own voice or breathing.

Often, the cause of patulous eustachian tube is not known. However, there are some known risk factors for patulous eustachian tubes including weight loss, pregnancy, neurologic disorders like multiple sclerosis, anxiety, and exhaustion.

What Causes Ear Pain?

How Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Is Treated

Most symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction are mild and get better on their own within a few days. If your eustachian tubes are blocked, swallowing, chewing gum, or yawning can help clear them.

If your symptoms persist orif you’re having pain, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can figure out why your ears are blocked and recommend the best treatment.

They might suggest you try a few treatments to reduce nasal congestion and clear the middle ear of drainage, such as:

Some people might find eustachian tube massage helpful for symptoms, but there has not been a lot of research to prove that it works to clear up a blockage or treat eustachian tube dysfunction.

What to Do When Your Ears Won’t Pop

Surgery Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

For severe eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms that don’t go away, you might need to have surgery. There are a few ways that providers can clear the eustachian tubes if they are blocked:

Most people with patulous eustachian tubes can manage their symptoms without surgery because they only happen once in a while (e.g., while they’re in an airplane). For example, putting your head down between your knees can quickly relieve symptoms.

If these strategies do not work, patulous eustachian tubes can be treated with surgery similar to eustachian tube dysfunction.

Can You Get Ear Tube Surgery as an Adult?

Summary

The eustachian tubes run from the top of your throat to your middle ear. Their job is to help protect your ear and keep it healthy. Sometimes, there are problems with the eustachian tube and they don’t open or close correctly.

Eustachian tube dysfunction can often be treated without surgery, but sometimes people need to havespecial tubesput in their ears to help prevent them from getting blocked up or infected.

What to Expect Before, During and After Ear Tube Surgery

9 SourcesVerywell 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.Szymanski A, Agarwal A.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Ear Eustachian Tube. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Llewellyn A, Norman G, Harden M, et al.Interventions for adult Eustachian tube dysfunction: a systematic review.Health Technol Assess. 2014;18(46):1-180, v-vi. doi:10.3310/hta18460.Smith ME, Takwoingi Y, Deeks J, et al.Eustachian tube dysfunction: A diagnostic accuracy study and proposed diagnostic pathway.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206946. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206946.Casale J. Physiology Eustachian Tube Function. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Overview of Middle Ear Infections in Young Children.Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center.Patulous Eustachian Tube.Florida Naturopathic Medicine Association.Eustachian Tube Massage for Congestion.Feldmann H. Die Trommelfellmassage, Aufstieg und Niedergang eines vielversprechenden therapeutischen Konzeptes[Tympanic membrane massage, origin and decline of a promising therapeutic concept].Laryngorhinootologie. 1996;75(8):491-498. doi:10.1055/s-2007-997621Hussein AA, Adams AS, Turner JH.Surgical management of Patulous Eustachian tube: A systematic review.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(9):2193-2198. doi:10.1002/lary.25168 doi:10.1002/lary.25168

9 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.Szymanski A, Agarwal A.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Ear Eustachian Tube. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Llewellyn A, Norman G, Harden M, et al.Interventions for adult Eustachian tube dysfunction: a systematic review.Health Technol Assess. 2014;18(46):1-180, v-vi. doi:10.3310/hta18460.Smith ME, Takwoingi Y, Deeks J, et al.Eustachian tube dysfunction: A diagnostic accuracy study and proposed diagnostic pathway.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206946. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206946.Casale J. Physiology Eustachian Tube Function. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Overview of Middle Ear Infections in Young Children.Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center.Patulous Eustachian Tube.Florida Naturopathic Medicine Association.Eustachian Tube Massage for Congestion.Feldmann H. Die Trommelfellmassage, Aufstieg und Niedergang eines vielversprechenden therapeutischen Konzeptes[Tympanic membrane massage, origin and decline of a promising therapeutic concept].Laryngorhinootologie. 1996;75(8):491-498. doi:10.1055/s-2007-997621Hussein AA, Adams AS, Turner JH.Surgical management of Patulous Eustachian tube: A systematic review.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(9):2193-2198. doi:10.1002/lary.25168 doi:10.1002/lary.25168

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.

Szymanski A, Agarwal A.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Ear Eustachian Tube. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Llewellyn A, Norman G, Harden M, et al.Interventions for adult Eustachian tube dysfunction: a systematic review.Health Technol Assess. 2014;18(46):1-180, v-vi. doi:10.3310/hta18460.Smith ME, Takwoingi Y, Deeks J, et al.Eustachian tube dysfunction: A diagnostic accuracy study and proposed diagnostic pathway.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206946. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206946.Casale J. Physiology Eustachian Tube Function. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Overview of Middle Ear Infections in Young Children.Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center.Patulous Eustachian Tube.Florida Naturopathic Medicine Association.Eustachian Tube Massage for Congestion.Feldmann H. Die Trommelfellmassage, Aufstieg und Niedergang eines vielversprechenden therapeutischen Konzeptes[Tympanic membrane massage, origin and decline of a promising therapeutic concept].Laryngorhinootologie. 1996;75(8):491-498. doi:10.1055/s-2007-997621Hussein AA, Adams AS, Turner JH.Surgical management of Patulous Eustachian tube: A systematic review.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(9):2193-2198. doi:10.1002/lary.25168 doi:10.1002/lary.25168

Szymanski A, Agarwal A.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Ear Eustachian Tube. National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Llewellyn A, Norman G, Harden M, et al.Interventions for adult Eustachian tube dysfunction: a systematic review.Health Technol Assess. 2014;18(46):1-180, v-vi. doi:10.3310/hta18460.

Smith ME, Takwoingi Y, Deeks J, et al.Eustachian tube dysfunction: A diagnostic accuracy study and proposed diagnostic pathway.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206946. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206946.

Casale J. Physiology Eustachian Tube Function. National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Merck Manual Consumer Version.Overview of Middle Ear Infections in Young Children.

Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center.Patulous Eustachian Tube.

Florida Naturopathic Medicine Association.Eustachian Tube Massage for Congestion.

Feldmann H. Die Trommelfellmassage, Aufstieg und Niedergang eines vielversprechenden therapeutischen Konzeptes[Tympanic membrane massage, origin and decline of a promising therapeutic concept].Laryngorhinootologie. 1996;75(8):491-498. doi:10.1055/s-2007-997621

Hussein AA, Adams AS, Turner JH.Surgical management of Patulous Eustachian tube: A systematic review.Laryngoscope. 2015;125(9):2193-2198. doi:10.1002/lary.25168 doi:10.1002/lary.25168

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