Eustachian tube

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eustachian Tube

Malleus
Tensor Tympani
Incus
Stapedius
Labyrinth
Stapes
Auditory Canal
Tympanic Membrane
(Ear Drum)
Eustachian Tube
Tympanic cavity

Middle ear, with auditory tube at bottom right.

Details

Latin

Tuba auditiva, tuba auditivea,

tuba auditoria

Precursor

first branchial pouch

Identifiers

Gray's

p.1042

MeSH

A09.246.397.369

Code

381.81

Dorlands

t_21/12826987

/Elsevier

TA

A15.3.02.073

FMA

9705

Anatomical terminology

The Eustachian tube /juste.ntjub/, also known as the auditory tube or pharyngotympanic
tube,[citation needed] is a tube that links thenasopharynx to the middle ear. It is a part of the middle ear. In
adult humans the Eustachian tube is approximately 35 mm (1.4 in) long. It is named after the
sixteenth-century anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi.[1]
Contents
[hide]

1 Structure
o

1.1 Cartilaginous part

1.2 Development

2 Function
o

2.1 Pressure equalization

2.2 Mucus drainage

3 Clinical significance

4 Other animals

5 Additional images

6 See also

7 References

8 External links

Structure[edit]

Upper respiratory system, showingentrance to audotory tube near middle.

The Eustachian tube extends from the anterior wall of the middle ear to the lateral wall of
the nasopharynx, approximately at the level of theinferior nasal concha. It consists of a bony part
and a cartilaginous part.
A portion of the tube (1/3) proximal to the middle ear is made of bone; this bony part is about 12 mm
in length. It begins in the carotid wall of the tympanic cavity, below the septum canalis
musculotubarii, and, gradually narrowing, ends at the angle of junction of the squama and
the petrous portion of the temporal bone, its extremity presenting a jagged margin which serves for
the attachment of the cartilaginous portion of the rest of the tube,[2] and this raises a tubal elevation,
the torus tubarius, in the nasopharynx where it opens.
There are four muscles associated with the function of the Eustachian tube:

Levator veli palatini (innervated by the vagus nerve)

Salpingopharyngeus (innervated by the vagus nerve)

Tensor tympani (innervated by the mandibular nerve of CN V)

Tensor veli palatini (innervated by the mandibular nerve of CN V)

Function[edit]
Pressure equalization[edit]
Under normal circumstances, the human Eustachian tube is closed, but it can open to let a small
amount of air through to prevent damage by equalizing pressure between the middle ear and the
atmosphere. Pressure differences cause temporary conductive hearing loss by decreased motion of
the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the ear.[4] Various methods of ear clearingsuch as yawning,
swallowing, or chewing gum, may be used intentionally to open the tube and equalize pressures.
When this happens, humans hear a small popping sound, an event familiar to aircraft passengers,
scuba divers, or drivers in mountainous regions. Devices assisting in pressure equalization include
an ad hoc balloon applied to the nose, creating inflation by positive air pressure. [5] Some people learn
to voluntarily 'click' their ears, together or separately, performing a pressure equalizing routine by
opening their Eustachian tubes when pressure changes are experienced, as in
ascending/descending in aircraft, mountain driving, elevator lift/drops, etc. Some are even able to
deliberately keep their Eustachian tubes open for a brief period, and even increase or decrease air
pressure in the middle ear. The 'clicking' can actually be heard audibly by putting one's ear to

another's while performing the clicking sound. This voluntary control may be first discovered when
yawning or swallowing, or by other means (above). Those who develop this ability may discover that
it can be done deliberately without force even when there are no pressure issues involved. When the
Eustachian Tubes are deliberately held open voluntarily, one's voice sounds louder in one's head
than when they are closed.