Hearing is one of the important sensory organs. It is with his help that we perceive the slightest changes in the world around us, we hear alarm signals warning of danger. The organ of hearing is very important for all living organisms, although there are those that do without it.
In humans, the auditory analyzer includes the outer, middle and inner ear; from them, information passes through the auditory nerve to the brain, where it is processed. The article will dwell in more detail on the structure, functions and diseases of the outer ear.
The structure of the outer ear
The human ear consists of several sections:
- Outdoor.
- Middle ear.
- Inner.
The outer ear includes:
- Auricle.
- Auditory passage.
- Eardrum.
Beginning with the most primitive vertebrate animals, in which hearing appeared, the structure of the ear gradually became more complicated. This is due to a general increase in the organization of animals. For the first time, the outer ear appears in mammals. In nature, there are some species of birds with an auricle, for example, an eared owl.
Auricle
The outer ear of a person begins with the auricle. It almost completely consists of cartilage tissue about 1 mm thick. Only the earlobe does not have cartilage in its structure : it consists of adipose tissue and is covered with skin.
The outer ear has a concave shape with a curl on the edge. It is separated by a small depression from the internal antihelix, from which the auricle cavity goes towards the ear canal. At the entrance to the ear canal is a tragus.
Auditory passage
The next section that has the outer ear is the ear canal. It is a tube 2.5 centimeters long and 0.9 cm in diameter. It is based on cartilage resembling a groove in shape that opens upward. In the cartilage, there are Santorium fissures that border the salivary gland.
Cartilage is present only in the initial section of the passage, then it passes into the bone tissue. The ear canal itself is slightly curved in the horizontal direction, so when viewed from a doctor, the auricle in adults pulls the auricle back and up, and in children, it pulls back and down.
Inside the ear canal, there are sebaceous and sulfur glands that produce earwax. Chewing process contributes to its removal, during which the passage walls oscillate.
The ear canal ends with the eardrum, which blindly closes it.
Eardrum
The eardrum connects the outer and middle ears. It is a translucent plate with a thickness of only 0.1 mm, its area is about 60 mm 2 .
The eardrum is located relative to the ear canal a little oblique and drawn in a funnel into the cavity. She has the greatest tension in the center. Behind her is the middle ear.
Features of the structure of the outer ear in infants
When the baby is born, its hearing organ is not yet fully formed, and the structure of the outer ear has a number of distinctive features:
- The auricle is soft.
- The earlobe and curl are practically not expressed, they form only by 4 years.
- There is no bone in the ear canal.
- The walls of the passage are located almost nearby.
- The eardrum is located horizontally.
- The size of the eardrum is not different from that of adults, but it is much thicker and covered with mucous membranes.
The child grows, and with it the development of the organ of hearing. Gradually, he acquires all the features of an adult auditory analyzer.
External ear function
Each department of the auditory analyzer performs its function. The outer ear is intended primarily for the following purposes:
- Reception of sound waves.
- The auricle promotes the concentration of sounds that come from different sides of space.
- The outer ear amplifies the beep.
- The protective function is to protect the eardrum from mechanical and thermal influences.
- Keeps constant temperature and humidity.
Thus, the functions of the outer ear are quite diverse, and the auricle serves us not only for beauty.
Inflammation in the outer ear
Quite often colds end with an inflammatory process inside the ear. This problem is especially relevant in children, since the auditory tube in them is short, and the infection can quickly enter the ear from the nasal cavity or throat.
In all, inflammation in the ears can manifest itself in different ways, it all depends on the form of the disease. There are several types:
- Otitis externa.
- Middle.
- Interior.
Cope at home is possible only with the first two varieties, but internal otitis media requires inpatient treatment.
If we consider external otitis media, then it also happens in two forms:
The first form occurs, as a rule, as a result of inflammation of the hair follicle in the ear canal. In a way, this is an ordinary boil, but only in the ear.
The diffuse form of the inflammatory process covers the entire passage.
Causes of Otitis
There are a lot of reasons that can provoke an inflammatory process in the outer ear, but the following are often found among them:
- Bacterial infection.
- Fungal disease.
- Allergic problems.
- Improper ear canal hygiene.
- An independent attempt to remove ear plugs.
- Contact with foreign bodies.
- Viral nature, although this is very rare.
The cause of pain in the outer ear in healthy people
It is not necessary, if there is pain in the ear, a diagnosis of otitis media is made. Often, such pain may occur for other reasons:
- Walking in windy weather without a headgear can cause earache. Wind exerts pressure on the auricle and a bruise forms, the skin acquires a bluish color. This condition passes quickly enough after getting into a warm room, treatment is not required.
- Swimming enthusiasts also have an earache - a frequent companion. Because water gets into the ears and irritates the skin during exercise, this can lead to swelling or otitis externa.
- Excessive accumulation of sulfur in the ear canal can cause not only a feeling of stuffiness, but also pain.
- Lack of sulfur emission by sulfur glands, on the contrary, is accompanied by a feeling of dryness, which can also cause pain.
As a rule, if otitis media does not develop, all unpleasant sensations in the ear go away on their own and do not require additional treatment.
Manifestations of external otitis media
If the doctor diagnoses damage to the auditory canal and the auricle, the diagnosis is otitis externa. Its manifestations may be as follows:
- The pain is of varying intensity, from very subtle to interfering with sleep at night.
- This condition can last several days, and then subside.
- In the ears there is a feeling of congestion, itching, noise.
- During the inflammatory process, hearing acuity may decrease.
- Since otitis media is an inflammatory disease, body temperature can rise.
- The skin around the ear can acquire a reddish tint.
- When you click on the ear, the pain intensifies.
External ear inflammation should be treated by an ENT doctor. After examining the patient and determining the stage and severity of the disease, medications are prescribed.
Therapy for limited otitis media
Treatment of this form of the disease is usually carried out surgically. After the administration of the anesthetic drug, a boil is opened and pus is removed. After this procedure, the patient's condition improves significantly.
For some time you will have to take antibacterial drugs in the form of drops or ointments, for example:
- Normax.
- "Candibiotic."
- Levomekol.
- "Celestoderm-B."
Usually, after a course of antibiotics, everything returns to normal, and the patient fully recovers.
Therapy of diffuse otitis media
Treatment of this form of the disease is carried out only conservatively. All medications are prescribed by a doctor. Typically, the course includes a set of measures:
- Reception of antibacterial drops, for example, Ofloxacin, Neomycin.
- Anti-inflammatory drops “Otipaks” or “Otirelax”.
- Antihistamines (Citrine, Claritin) help relieve swelling.
- To relieve pain, an NPS is prescribed, for example, Diclofenac, Nurofen.
- To increase immunity, the intake of vitamin-mineral complexes is indicated.
During treatment, it must be remembered that any warming procedures are contraindicated, they can only be prescribed by a doctor at the recovery stage. If all the doctor’s recommendations are followed and a full course of therapy is completed, then you can be sure that the outer ear will be healthy.
Treatment of otitis media in children
In children, the physiology is such that the inflammatory process very quickly spreads from the nasal cavity to the ear. If you notice in time that the child is disturbed by the ear, then the treatment will be short and uncomplicated.
The doctor usually does not prescribe antibiotics. All therapy consists in taking antipyretic drugs and painkillers. Parents can be advised not to self-medicate, but to adhere to the doctor’s recommendations.
Drops that are bought on the recommendation of friends can only harm your child. When the baby is sick, appetite usually decreases. You can’t force him to eat through force, it is better to give more to drink, so that toxins are removed from the body.
If the baby is too often more otitis media, there is a reason to talk with the pediatrician about vaccination. In many countries they are already getting this vaccine; it will protect the outer ear from the inflammatory processes that are caused by bacteria.
Prevention of inflammatory diseases of the external ear
Any inflammation of the outer ear can be prevented. To do this, you need to follow only some simple recommendations:
- Proper ear hygiene. It is necessary to clean with ear sticks, only they can not be inserted into the ear more than half a centimeter, so as not to push the sulfur even further.
- In no case should you use pins, hairpins, matches to clean your ears.
- If you find sulfur plugs, do not try to remove them yourself from the ear.
- It is necessary to ensure that children do not stuff anything in their ears, and this happens quite often.
- During water procedures, it is advisable to protect the ears from water. This recommendation is especially relevant for swimming in open water.
- Strengthen the immune system, because very often otitis media appears as a complication of a cold.
If the pain in the ear does not cause much concern, this does not mean that you do not need to see a doctor. Inflamed inflammation can turn into much more serious problems. Timely treatment will quickly cope with otitis externa and relieve suffering.