Numerous conditions can cause pain behind the ear and down the neck. According to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, neck pain can travel to other parts of the body, such as the shoulder, arm and head. In some cases,...
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, the mastoid process is a prominent, bony bump located just behind the outside ear, and although the size of the mastoid process varies between...
An ear infection occurs when the Eustachian tube, the tube that runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat, becomes blocked. Fluid builds up, enabling bacteria or viruses to grow and cause an infection. A chronic ear infection occurs when...
Ear infections can cause pain, fever and in severe cases, even loss of hearing. The complex structure of the ear controls not only hearing, but balance. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ear infections are one of the most...
Ear infections happen when fluid builds up inside the ear, giving bacteria or viruses a place to grow. Ear pain and fever can result. Although the National Institutes of Health says most ear infections resolve without causing additional problems,...
Earaches are very common in children, but adults can experience them as well. Anyone who ever suffered with an earache knows how quickly the pain can set in and how intense it can be. Ear pain, experienced in one or both ears, can be sharp, dull,...
Ear infections are a common ailment, especially in infants and young children. Otitis externa is an infection of the ear canal, and otitis media is an infection of the middle ear (behind the eardrum). The National Institute on Deafness and Other...
The different types of bones provide unique functions. Flat bones such as the skull, ribs and sternum protect vital organs. Long bones--the arms and legs--are the framework of the body. Bones store calcium and make new blood cells. The various...
The middle ear is an air-filled space located behind the eardrum. The Merck Manuals Medical Library describes the middle ear as containing three tiny bones, called ossicles. These bones transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear....
There are numerous causes of adult ear pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, ear pain can be sharp, dull or burning. The NIH says ear pain can manifest in one or both ears, and that...
Left untreated, ear disorders can threaten not only your ability to hear but also can cause serious disruptions in your sense of balance that can lead to other health problems. Infections and other ear problems can manifest themselves in a variety...
A canal wall down mastoidectomy is a significantly more invasive procedure than a canal wall up mastoidectomy, leaving an opening following the operation which exposes your ear canal. If you decide to swim during your recovery, you'll have to take...
Removing earwax usually requires nothing more than wiping loose wax from the opening of the ear, but in some cases the wax or cerumen collects in the ear canal, creating a health condition known in medical circles as cerumen impaction. Various...
The mastoid is part of the temporal skull bone which is located behind the ear. Hollow pockets within the mastoid are referred to as the mastoid sinus which connect to the inner ear and eustachian tube. Bacteria related to otitis media, influenza,...
The ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) lists more than 100 eye and ear diseases. There are a number general vision problems such as strabismus, myopia (near-sightedness), hypermentropia...
Discovering a new lump or bump on your skin can be frightening. When located behind the ear, those bumps could be anything from an infection, such as mastoiditis, to an allergic reaction, such as dermatitis. Only your doctor can diagnose you...
Earwax, also called, cerumen, is actually a good thing most of the time. Without it your ears would be dry and itchy. Cerumen is a self-cleaning agent for the ear that has antibacterial and protective qualities. Most of the time your ears will...
Strep throat, the most common bacterial throat infection, is caused by bacteria called Group A Streptococcus and is spread by saliva or nasal secretions. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that strep throat usually develops...
Because of the anatomy and location of the ear, conditions that cause pain in the ear are also often felt in the neck. One reason for this is that the front of the ear canal is formed by the jaw bone. Another reason is that muscles and nerves from...
Ear infections are common in children. According to the National Institutes of Health, three out of four children have at least one ear infection before their third birthday. Most children outgrow infections, but chronic cases can cause long-term...
A painful and short infection of the middle ear is called acute otitis media. Acute otitis media occurs due to a block in the Eustachian tube. The tube connects the back of the nose to the middle ear; a block will lead to pus collection behind the...
The middle ear plays an integral part in the ability to hear. The middle ear transmits sound energy from the eardrum to the inner ear, which then transmits signals into neural signals. Middle ear tumors, or growths, occur in the area behind the...
Ear infections come in many levels depending on the section of the ear involved. For instances, swimmer's ear encompasses only the outer portion of the ear canal. A middle ear infection, known as acute otits media, affects the area behind the...
A ruptured eardrum is a tear or opening in the eardrum. The eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane, separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The eardrum vibrates when sound waves strikes the eardrum. The vibrations are then transmitted to...
Nasal allergy symptoms resemble a common cold, including nasal congestion, watery mucus and the buildup of pressure in your ears, which leads to earache. While the earache itself may not indicate an infection, if the cause of ear pain is not...
