Why is the eustachian tube important

From the middle ear, the first third of the tube osseous is encased in bone and the distal two-thirds pharyngeal in cartilage.

The pharyngeal two-thirds of the Eustachian tube is closed at rest and opens during swallowing, sneezing or performance of a valsalva maneuver.

At the nasopharyngeal end, a ring of lymphoid tissue known as the tubal tonsil of Gerlach surrounds the orifice. The Eustachian tube in infancy differs anatomically and physiologically from that of the adolescent. The shorter tube during infancy and early childhood facilitates reflux of bacteria-laden secretions from the nasopharynx. In addition, the isthmus constricted zone is not angulated in infants as it is in adolescents and adults.

This reduces the protective function of the Eustachian tube. Infants also are less able to actively open the Eustachian tube that accounts in part for their susceptibility to middle-ear disease. The Eustachian tube has three primary functions: 1 ventilation of the middle ear so that ambient pressure and middle ear pressure are similar; 2 protection of the middle ear from reflux of nasopharyngeal secretions and bacterial flora; and 3 drainage of secretions from the middle ear into the nasopharynx.

Optimum function of the Eustachian tube depends on a number of factors, including its length and angulation with the horizontal plane, the function and angulation of the tensor veli palatini muscle that opens up the pharyngeal end of the tube levator palatini assumes a role in late childhood , the amount of surfactant produced by the pharyngeal zone, and the viscosity of liquid in the middle ear.

The consequences of Eustachian tube dysfunction decrease with age. Dysfunction of the Eustachian tube can occur from anatomical causes, such as lymphoid tissue, edema, inflammation, and viscosity and amount of mucoid effusion or physiological causes, such as barotrauma, middle ear atelectesis, deficiency of surfactant production, ciliary dysfunction and abnormal patency of the pharyngeal tubal orifice.

In the meantime, it may be necessary to reestablish Eustachian tube patency. Here are some techniques I use and situations where they would be appropriate. The Politzer technique is a simple method of introducing positive pressure into one nostril with the goal of aeration of the middle ear via the Eustachian tube.

March Author Affiliations Los Angeles. Access through your institution. Add or change institution. Save Preferences. Privacy Policy Terms of Use. Access your subscriptions. Combined with the cardiovascular system, the circulatory system helps to fight off disease, helps the body maintain a normal body temperature, and…. The brain is one of your most important organs. The supraspinatus muscle is a rotator cuff muscle located in the shoulder, specifically in the supraspinatus fossa, a concave depression in the rear….

The masseter muscle is a facial muscle that plays a major role in the chewing of solid foods. The muscle is shaped similar to a parallelogram…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Read this next. Nasopharynx Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Some people have no trouble opening their eustachian tubes when air pressure changes, such as when flying in an airplane or diving underwater.

Others may have a harder time, making it harder to equalize the pressure and causing some temporary ear pain. Patulous eustachian tube , which is less common, results from the eustachian tube remaining open longer than usual. Patients may complain of feeling pressure in their ears or hearing a distortion in their own voice or breathing.

In many cases, the cause of patulous eustachian tube is not known, but some of the risk factors include weight loss, pregnancy, neurologic disorders like multiple sclerosis, anxiety, and exhaustion. Most ETD symptoms are mild and resolve within a few days.

If your eustachian tubes are blocked, you can try some simple methods to clear them, such as swallowing, chewing gum, or yawning. To help reduce nasal congestion and clear the middle ear of drainage, your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments:. If your blockage is caused by an infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics. Tympanostomy tubes, also known as ear tubes , may be inserted to help with persistent drainage and blockage in the middle ear.

Balloon dilation of the eustachian tube can also help some patients. In this procedure, a balloon catheter is placed in the eustachian tube through the nose, filled with saline, emptied, and removed. Patients with patulous eustachian tube can manage symptoms in several ways. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you put your head down between your knees when symptoms occur.

For patients with severe cases, surgery may also be an option. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Szymanski A, Agarwal A. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Updated December 6, Interventions for adult Eustachian tube dysfunction: a systematic review. Health Technol Assess.