Where is tympanic membrane located

A canal that links the middle ear with the back of the nose. The eustachian tube helps to equalize the pressure in the middle ear.

Equalized pressure is needed for the proper transfer of sound waves. The eustachian tube is lined with mucous, just like the inside of the nose and throat. This contains the nerves for hearing. This contains receptors for balance. Semicircular canals. Hearing starts with the outer ear. The other is the round window membrane. In its normal state, the Eustachian tube stays closed, but it will open when you yawn, swallow, chew, or hold your nose and blow.

The purpose of the Eustachian tube is to provide fresh air to the middle ear space and to equalize pressure between the outer ear and the middle ear. That sound is your Eustachian tube s opening and closing to equalize the air pressure in your ears.

A tiny organ organ of Corti sits on top of the basilar membrane. This organ contains hair cells, which convert the mechanical energy from the vibrations of the basilar membrane into electrical impulses. Those electrical impulses are sent to the auditory nerve [12] , which transmits the information up the brainstem to the auditory cortex.

The pinna catches sound waves and channels them down the external auditory canal, where they hit the tympanic membrane and make it vibrate. Those vibrations cause the three ossicles to move.

The stapes footplate pushes on the oval window membrane, which sets the cochlear fluid in motion. This wave-like motion causes the basilar membrane to vibrate. This results in a release of chemicals neurotransmitter , which signals auditory nerve fibers to fire. The auditory nerve sends these impulses up to the brain, where the signal is interpreted as sound.

The eardrum has three layers: the outer layer, inner layer, and middle layer. The middle layer is made of fibers that give the eardrum elasticity and stiffness. Cartilage holds the eardrum in place. The eardrum covers the end of the external ear canal and looks like a flattened cone with its tip pointed inward toward the middle ear.

It is transparent and is about the size of a dime. The eardrum divides the outer ear from the middle ear. The eardrum sits between the end of the external ear canal and the auditory ossicles , which are three tiny bones in the middle ear, called the malleus, incus, and stapes. The two primary functions of the eardrum are auditory and protective.

As soundwaves enter the ear canal, they hit the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. These vibrations then move the three tiny bones in the middle ear. Those bones then increase the sound and send them to the cochlea in the inner ear, where hair cells ripple and an electrical signal is created.

From there, an auditory nerve carries the signal to the brain, where it is received as sound. In addition to helping you hear, the eardrum also acts as a protective barrier, keeping the middle ear free from dirt, debris, and bacteria. If an eardrum becomes perforated or ruptures, the middle ear is vulnerable to infection. The eardrum is delicate and can rupture or tear. Most often this happens as a result of a middle ear infection called otitis media.

Damage to the eardrum can also occur as a result of trauma from things like:. Pain from a ruptured eardrum is often treated with over the counter pain relievers. A warm compress held on the outside of the ear may also offer some relief. If the rupture is due to a middle ear infection, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

It is important not to put anything in the ear if you have or suspect you may have a ruptured eardrum. A ruptured eardrum can be seen with an otoscope, an instrument used to look into the ears. Many times a healthcare provider can diagnose a ruptured eardrum by simply looking in the ear. If looking at your eardrum with an otoscope is not conclusive, your healthcare provider may also do an audiology exam to test your hearing. In addition, they may perform tympanometry , which tests how your eardrums respond to pressure changes.

Most ruptured eardrums heal on their own within a few weeks, though it can take longer. Rarely, ruptured eardrums require surgery to repair. Surgical eardrum repair is performed by an ear, nose, throat ENT surgeon under general anesthesia.