Ear Infection Information | National Jewish Health

This information was reviewed and approved by Cameran Collins, PA-C (10/31/2018).

Infections of the ear can affect one or more of the various parts of the ear.

There are three main parts to the ear. They include the inner ear, middle ear and outer ear.

The outer ear collects sounds, and consists of the ear and ear canal up to the eardrum.
The middle ear is the space beneath the ear drum and is about the size of a pencil eraser.The middle ear is an air-filled space that is separated from the outer ear by a very thin eardrum Attached to the eardrum are three bones. These tiny bones, the oscines include the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup). Sound waves hit the eardrum and make it vibrate. The eardrum vibrations make the attached bones transmit the vibrations to the inner ear.
The inner ear converts the vibrations to electrical signals and sends these signals to the brain. The inner ear also helps maintain your physical balance.

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear space to the nasopharynx in the back of the nasal cavity. This tube helps equalize ear pressure. Any Eustachian tube dysfunction or obstruction can predispose a person to ear infections.

Ear infections are much more common in infants and children though they do occur in adults as well.

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