Middle ear pressure balance under normal conditions. Specific role of the middle ear structure.
The mechanisms which govern under normal conditions the balance of middle ear pressure are discussed. The regular periodic active process of gas transfer through the Eustachian tube, the steady gas diffusion between middle ear and blood compartment and finally the pressure buffer role played by the mastoid are successively considered.
Ars
B
B
Temporal Bone Foundation, Brussels, Belgium.
Ars-Piret
N
N
D004058:Diffusion; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000502:physiology; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008416:Mastoid / Q000502:physiology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure
D005740:Gases