Rehab Head & Face Ch 23 :2 The Ear Kelly Hutchison

The Ear Consists of three parts: A. Outer Ear: visable part of the ear (pinna and ear canal) Pinna- auricle, visable part, composed of skin and cartilage. Ear Canal(Meatus) a short tube leading to tympanic membrane(eardrum) . Produces wax and tiny hairs that both help trap dust and small foreign bodies.

Ear Middle Ear: air filled space between the ear drum and inner ear. Contains three small bones called Ossicles , eardrum, and Eustachian tube. Ossicles: A. Malleus(hammer) attached to inside ear drum B. Incus( anvil) Connects malleus to stapes C. Stapes (Stirrup) attaches the incus to the oval window of inner ear.

Eustachian tube Connects to middle ear to the throat. Closed unless the person is swallowing or yawning. It then opens the space of the middle ear to outside air; equalizing air pressure in the ,middle ear to that of the outside.

Inner Ear Consists of structures contained within the bones of the skull. Cochlea-coiled tube containing the sensory nerves for the sense of hearing. Semicircular canals contain the sensory nerves detecting how the head is moving. Vestibule cavity contains the sensory nerves that inform the brain about the current position of the head. Vestibulocochlear nerve carries the sensory information to the brain.

Cauliflower Ear Caused by a destruction of the underlying cartilage of the outer ear (pinna). Blood collects between the cartilage and the skin, causing thickening of the entire outer ear. S/S: blood clot under skin of ear, causes ear cartilage to die and shrivel up, since skin is its only blood supply. TX: Hematoma (blood clot)is to drain it through an incision in the ear and apply compressive dressing to sandwich the two sides of skin against the cartilage.

Swimmers Ear An infection of the skin covering the outer ear canal. Keep ear dry since moisture will irritate the problem. Prevention drops or treat infection with antibiotic drops.

Foreign Bodies in Ear Objects or insects Can be difficult to remove S/S mild to sever pain, drainage from ear, fever, nausea, and vomiting coughing, tearing from the eye, dizziness , and foul odor from ear caused by infection. TX: Involves anything from flushing of the ear canal with warm water to surgery to remove object.

Tympanic Rupture Perforation of the tympanic membrane (ear drum) between the middle ear and the ear canal. Caused by infection or trauma S/S severe ear pain, sudden drainage (if caused by infection) TX. Whatever the cause see physician for evaluation