The ear is an intricate organ consisting of the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. The middle ear serves a number of important functions, including receiving sound waves and equalizing pressure within the ear, according to Richard Rosenberg, M.D., an ear, nose and throat specialist at White Plains Hospital Center in White Plains, New York.
The Ear Drum Divides the Outer Ear From the Middle Ear
Also called the tympanic membrane, the ear drum sits at the end of the ear canal, between the outer ear and the middle ear, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology or AAO. Sound waves strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. The OTO states that the vibrations are then passed from the ear drum to the hollow cavity inside the middle ear, triggering the movement of three bones. The delicate ear drum can be easily perforated by foreign objects inserted into the ear canal or injured by loud noises, causing ringing in the ears, says Dr. Rosenberg.
The Middle Ear
These three miniature bones are commonly known as the hammer, stirrup and anvil due to their shapes, says Rosenberg. New York Presbyterian Hospital reports that the medical term for them is ossicles. As sound waves move from the eardrum, the ossicles vibrate, transmitting sound waves to the inner ear, which sends nerve impulses to the brain that are interpreted as sound, explains Rosenberg.
Middle Ear is Connected to the Back of the Nose by a Tube
This important tube is called the Eustachian tube. It reaches from the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat area, says Rosenberg. The Eustachian tube helps equalize pressure between the outer ear and middle ear, allowing for the proper transfer of sound waves, according to New York Presbyterian Hospital. The Eustachian tube is lined with mucus like the inside of the nose and throat.
The Middle Ear Dampens Loud Noises
The middle ear contains muscles that contract when loud noises enter the ear. "This reduces the sound waves that are transmitted to the inner ear, thereby dampening extremely loud noises," says Rosenberg. This is called the acoustic reflex.
Otitis Media is an Inflammation of the Middle Ear
This painful inflammation is commonly known as an ear infection. It occurs when viruses or bacteria get inside the middle ear, often due to a respiratory illness such as a cold, says Rosenberg. If left undiagnosed and untreated, ear infections can sometimes lead to hearing loss, according to the AAO.
Middle Ear Infections in Young Children
Three out of four children experience a middle ear infection by the time they are three years old, according to the National Institutes of Health or NIH. In fact, ear infections are the most common illnesses in young children. Babies and toddlers are especially vulnerable to middle ear infections because the young Eustachian tube is smaller and straighter than in older kids and adults, allowing bacteria to travel easily from the nose to the ear, reports the NIH. After age 8, middle ear infections are infrequent, says Rosenberg.
References
- Richard Rosenberg, M.D., otolaryngologist, White Plains, N.Y.
- American Academy of Otolaryngology: How the Ear Works
- New York Presbyterian Hospital: Ear Facts
- National Institutes of Health: Ear Infections: Facts for Parents About Otitis Media
- American Academy of Otolaryngology: Better Ear Health
