Ear, Nose & Throat

The ears may appear to be isolated structures but they are directly linked to the nose and throat. The visible part of the ear, the pinna is connected to the ear canal, which ends at the eardrum. Beyond this membrane lies the middle ear, an air filled space connected to the back of the nasal cavity and to the throat by a channel called the Eustachian tube. This tube ensures that the air pressure is the same on both sides of the eardrum.

Our ears provide us with two vital but very different senses: hearing and balance. Sound detected by the ears provides essential information about our external surroundings and allows us to communicate in highly sophisticated ways, such as through speech and music. In addition our ears contribute to our sense of balance, the largely unconscious understanding of the body’s orientation in space that allows us to maintain an upright posture and move without falling over. Ear problems and infections can upset this delicate balance.