 | ||
Precursor groove (cleft) of the first branchial arch. Artery anterior part: superficial temporal artery
posterior part: posterior auricular artery Vein superficial temporal veins, external jugular vein, pterygoid plexus Nerve auriculotemporal nerve, great auricular nerve, auricular branch of vagus nerve Lymph superficial cervical lymph nodes, deep cervical lymph nodes Latin meatus acusticus externus | ||
The ear canal (external acoustic meatus, external auditory meatus, EAM) (Latin: meatus acusticus externus), is a tube running from the outer ear to the middle ear. The adult human ear canal extends from the pinna to the eardrum and is about 2.5 centimetres (1 in) in length and 0.7 centimetres (0.3 in) in diameter.
Contents
Structure
The human ear canal is divided into two parts. The elastic cartilage part forms the outer third of the canal; its anterior and lower wall are cartilaginous, whereas its superior and back wall are fibrous. The cartilage is the continuation of the cartilage framework of pinna. The bony part forms the inner two thirds. The bony part is much shorter in children and is only a ring (annulus tympanicus) in the newborn.
Size and shape of the canal vary among individuals. The canal is approximately 2.5 centimetres (1 in) long and 0.7 centimetres (0.28 in) in diameter. It has a sigmoid form and runs from behind and above downward and forward. On the cross-section, it is of oval shape. These are important factors to consider when fitting earplugs.
Disorders
Due to its relative exposure to the outside world, the ear canal is susceptible to diseases and other disorders. Some disorders include:
Earwax
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a yellowish, waxy substance secreted in the ear canals. It plays an important role in the human ear canal, assisting in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, and insects. Excess or impacted cerumen can press against the eardrum and/or occlude the external auditory canal and impair hearing, causing conductive hearing loss.