Are the ears and nose connected?

Are the ears and nose connected? In fact, it’s not just the ears and nose that are connected, most of our five senses are connected. Between the ear and nose, there is an organ called the Eustachian tube that connects the two. So if water gets into our nose, it will enter through the Eustachian tube and flow out through the external auditory canal. Today we will introduce to you the function of the Eustachian tube and some disease prevention methods.

In the ENT department of the hospital, you may sometimes hear patients describe it like this: "I caught a cold a few days ago, and recently my ears have been feeling stuffy. The doctor told me to pinch my nose and blow air, and it cleared up after a while. What's going on? Are the nose and ears connected?" The answer is yes. There is a very important channel in the upper part of the front wall of the tympanic cavity in the middle ear. One end of it enters the tympanic cavity from the front wall, and the other end enters the nasopharynx. It is the channel connecting the tympanic cavity and the nasopharynx. This channel is called the Eustachian tube, also known as the Eustachian tube.

The Eustachian tube is arched, and the entire tube is about 35 to 39 mm long in an adult. It consists of two parts: the cartilaginous part and the bony part (children's Eustachian tube is shorter, flatter, and wider than that of adults, so it is more likely to cause otitis media).

Its outer 1/3 is bony, the internal carotid artery is located inside, and the tympanic opening is located in the upper part of the anterior wall of the tympanic cavity; the inner 2/3 is cartilaginous, and the pharyngeal opening at the medial end is located on the side wall of the nasopharynx, specifically at the posterior and inferior part of the posterior end of the inferior turbinate. The bony part is the shorter outer part of the tube, and its tympanic end opens into the anterior wall of the tympanic cavity; the cartilaginous part passes through the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube and opens into the lateral wall of the nasopharynx. The cartilaginous part is usually closed and only opens when swallowing or yawning to balance the air pressure in the middle ear and outer ear, which is conducive to the normal vibration of the eardrum.

The Eustachian tube is a narrow tube with a collapsible inner wall that connects the middle ear cavity and the nasopharynx behind the nose. The Eustachian tube cavity is about the thickness of a pencil core and opens hundreds of times a day. Generally speaking, it opens once every three swallows or every yawn. When the Eustachian tube opens, air flows into the tube and into the middle ear cavity.

The Eustachian tube plays three roles in otitis media:

First, the soft Eustachian tube does not close completely, and the secretions in the nasopharynx can easily flow into the middle ear.

Second, the Eustachian tube becomes swollen and blocked.

Third, the Eustachian tube is too horizontal, and the fluid in the middle ear cavity cannot easily flow into the nasopharynx.

The Eustachian tube has three main functions to protect the middle ear:

First, the Eustachian tube allows the middle ear to breathe during its opening and closing. Scientists call this the ventilation function of the Eustachian tube. When the Eustachian tube is swollen or blocked, the cells in the middle ear absorb the oxygen in the middle ear cavity, making it a vacuum. This ventilation function also helps to equalize the pressure inside and outside the middle ear, preventing injuries caused by sudden pressure changes such as those during elevator rides and airplane takeoffs and landings. This is why chewing gum combined with swallowing can reduce the feeling of pressure in the ears during takeoff and landing - swallowing opens the Eustachian tube and equalizes the pressure in the middle ear to the same as atmospheric pressure.

Second, the Eustachian tube acts as a drainage tube for the middle ear. If there is fluid accumulation in the middle ear, the Eustachian tube can drain it to the throat.

Third, the Eustachian tube can prevent bacteria, viruses, or secretions from entering the middle ear when the child blows his nose, sneezes, or coughs. Other structures that affect the function of the middle ear Adenoids and tonsils: Adenoids are lymphatic tissue that grows behind the nose above the throat. Tonsils are two oval-shaped lymphatic tissues located on both sides of the throat behind the mouth. Adenoids and tonsils are prone to infection and swelling in children. Researchers believe that there is the following relationship between these infected tissues and otitis media in young children: bacteria or viruses are transmitted from the infected tissues to the middle ear through the Eustachian tube, or swollen adenoids compress and block the Eustachian tube.