External Ear Canal

Abstract

Diseases of the external ear canal are common and very disturbing. They may cause severe pain as well as hearing loss. Cerumen, which is the most common disease of the external ear canal, may cause conductive-type hearing loss. Cerumen is the product of both the sebaceous and apocrine glands, which are located in the cartilaginous portion of the external ear canal. There are two basic types, ``wet'' and ``dry.'' Caucasians have a greater than 80{\%} probability of having wet, sticky, honey-colored ear wax. In the Mongoloid races the dry, scaly, rice-brand type is more common. The skin of the external ear canal is migratory and does not desquamate. There is no need to clean the ear canal. In some people there is excessive cerumen production. The cerumen is generally occluded in the narrowest part of the external ear canal at its midportion. These patients need periodic cleaning. Use of cotton swabs can push the cerumen deeper in the ear canal, which occludes the ear canal completely and makes removal more difficult. Otomycosis, polyps, foreign bodies, osteomas, and acute infections of the external ear canal are other important diseases.