## Step4

Earwax

In the pinna is an opening into the auditory canal. The soundwaves travel through the auditory canal into the ear. In the back of the auditory canal is the eardrum and on the sides are the glands which produce earwax.

The glands produce earwax. The function of earwax is to keep the eardrum supple and the bacteria out. When the eardrum is supple it can vibrate to soundwaves. Soundwaves can make the eardrum vibrate between 20 and 20.000 times per second!

Sometimes the earwax dries up and turns into a hard lump or ball. Because of this the eardrum can't vibrate well and you will hear less. By having a doctor clean your ear with a syringe.

True or false?

1. Earwax keeps the eardrum supple.

2. Dried up earwax can reduce your ability to hear because it can stop the eardrum from vibrating.

Watch the video to see how ear syringing works.

Earwax removal

You can also get an ear infection. The middle ear is the part right behind the eardrum, where the hearing bones are. The Eustachius tube connects the middle ear with your throat. Normally the Eustachius tube is closed. But... When you swallow or blow your nose it opens. When you have a cold, sometimes bacteria can go up the Eustachius tube and into the middle ear. When this gets infected you have an ear infection.

In young children they sometimes fit tubes which go through the eardrum. This way moisture and pus can get out of the middle ear.

True or false?

3. Bacteria from the throat can cause infection in the middle ear.

4. By placing tubes through the eardrum, moisture and pus can no longer get into the middle ear.

Watch the video to see how and why tubes are placed in the eardrum.

Tubes in your ear