Knowing the infant ear anatomy will help to understand ear deformities in infants.
Outer Ear Anatomy
Parts of the outer ear may be in any shape or size. This structure helps each one of us to gain a unique look. Parts of the outer ear in medical terminology are referred to as otapostasis or pinna.
The outer ear is made of ear cartilage and skin. The outer ear has four different parts; tragus of ear, helix, antihelix and lobule. Earlobe anatomy is an area that has no cartilage structure.
EAR CANAL
Ear canal starts from outer ear and ends in eardrum. Canal is approximately 2,5 centimeters long. Skin of ear canal is very sensitive to pain and pressure. Under the skin, canal’s one of three is cartilage and two out of three is bone. Therefore, outer ear infections is very painful.
EARDRUM
Eardrum’s medical term is Tympanic membrane. Tympanic membrane is transparent and grey. Attached to the eardrum’s middle area, malleus can be found. We the doctors, observe that in middle ear infections, this eardrum’s pearl color turn red.
The tympanic membrane can be found at the edge of the outer ear way. It has a skinny surface at the outer side, and a connective tissue full of mucus at the inner side. Membran gets connected to the temporal bone around it with a fibrocartilaginous circle.
The ear drum’s thickness is approximately 0,1 millimeters and it has an 8-10 millimeters diameter.
MIDDLE EAR
The space inside the eardrum is called the middle ear. The body’s three of the smallest bones are located in the middle ear; and they are called malleus, incus and stapes. These bones are also known as hammer, anvil and stirrup. In medical terminology, all of the three bones are accepted as middle ear ossicles.
What is the Physiologic Importance of Outer Ear?
The outer ear’s function is to collect sound waves and divert them to the tympanic membrane. In the temporal bone, the middle ear is a narrow hollow full of air.
What medical terms are used for ear remodeling?
Autoplasty is a surgery to correct the deformities in ear stricture and to remodel the ear. Surgery is usually for the children who are above 4. Some adults also may have autoplasty for cosmetic and medical purposes.
What is the Best Age for Autoplasty?
Autoplasty is a simple and safe procedure that can be done at every age when ears are completely matured. It is usually conducted at the age of around 5, and hence, the treatment would be completed between 5 and 7 years old.
EARWELL Ear Deformity Treatment
Earwell deformity treatment is conducted at the period where a baby is recently born. For Newborn baby ear correction and more information, you can search our baby ear deformities/baby ear deformities page.
The external ear’s hardening period gets complete when the baby’s age is around 2 months. Therefore, ear deformities treatment must be done at this period.