Sense organs (eye and ear)
Auditory (Eustachian) tube
Tuba auditiva (Tuba auditoria, Eustachii)
- Origin
- Connects the anterior wall of the tympanic cavity with the nasopharynx; posterior third bony, anterior two thirds cartilaginous
- Insertion
- Opens into the nasopharynx at the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube (torus tubarius)
- Function
- Equalises pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane and drains the middle ear
- Innervation
- Tympanic plexus (IX) and pterygopalatine nerves; opened by tensor and levator veli palatini (V3 and pharyngeal plexus respectively)
- Movement & chain
- Opens on swallowing, yawning and Valsalva; shorter, wider and more horizontal in children
- Palpation
- Assessed indirectly with tympanometry and pneumatic otoscopy; clearance tested by swallowing
- Clinical
- Tubal dysfunction with serous otitis media (glue ear) in children, barotrauma in flying and diving, patulous tube with autophony
- Segmental innervation
- Sensory IX; muscles via V3 and the pharyngeal plexus
- In clinical practice
- Advise travellers and divers with a cold on equalisation exercises beforehand
- Region in the model
- Sense organs (eye and ear)