Ear drum
Ear Drum
The Ear Drum (pronounced: /ˈɪər drʌm/), also known as the Tympanic Membrane (pronounced: /tɪmˈpænɪk ˈmɛmˌbreɪn/), is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. Its primary function is to transmit sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear, and then to the inner ear.
Etymology
The term "Ear Drum" comes from the analogy between the drum, which vibrates when hit, and the ear drum, which vibrates in response to sound waves. The term "Tympanic Membrane" derives from the Greek word "tympanon", meaning drum.
Structure
The Ear Drum is a thin, semi-transparent membrane made up of three layers: the outer layer, which is continuous with the skin of the ear canal; the middle fibrous layer, which is the strongest and most important for sound transmission; and the inner mucous membrane layer, which is continuous with the mucous membrane of the middle ear.
Related Terms
- Ossicles: The three tiny bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the ear drum to the inner ear.
- Eustachian tube: A tube that links the nasopharynx to the middle ear, which is responsible for equalizing ear pressure.
- Otitis media: An infection or inflammation of the middle ear, often caused by a malfunction of the Eustachian tube.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ear drum
- Wikipedia's article - Ear drum
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