Pathogenesis (development of disease)
The auditory tube (tuba auditiva) is a tube about 30 to 35 mm long that connects the nasopharynx via the tympanic cavity (cavum tympani) of the middle ear. It extends through the posterior floor of the canalis musculotubarius and is named after the Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi (Tuba Eustachii). It is lined with respiratory epithelium (ciliated epithelium). A bony portion (pars ossea) can be distinguished from a cartilaginous portion (pars cartilaginea).
The purpose of the auditory tube is to equalize pressure between the nasopharynx and the middle ear. In addition, it serves to drain the middle ear.
The auditory tube is usually only open during speech, swallowing and yawning.
Infection causes swelling of the mucosa, resulting in impaired ventilation. As a result, there is a retraction of the tympanic membrane. If necessary, there is also an accumulation of fluid (tympanic effusion). Possible causes of tympanic effusion include bacterial, immunomodulatory, and possibly allergic mechanisms.
Etiology (causes)
Disease-related causes.
Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99).
- Cleft palate or other craniofacial malformations.
Respiratory system (J00-J99)
- Allergic mucosal disease; allergic swelling of the tubal ostia (“mouth of a tube”) may promote seromucotympanum (accumulation of secretions in the tympanic cavity (cavum tympani))
- Impaired nasal breathing, unspecified.
- Otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear)
- Pharyngeal tonsillar hyperplasia (adenoid growths; adenoid vegetations) or inflammation of the same – leads to obstruction of nasal breathing.
- Rhinitis (cold)
- Septum deviation – curvature of the nasal septum.
- Sinusitis (sinusitis), acute and chronic.
- Cilia dysfunction – disturbance of the mobility of the ciliated epithelium.
Blood, hematopoietic organs – immune system (D50-D90).
- Immunodeficiency, unspecified
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).
- Myxedema (pasty (puffy; bloated) skin showing nonpushable, doughy edema (swelling) that is not positional; occurring primarily on the lower legs), especially in the setting of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or other unspecified endocrinologic causes
Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (synonyms: GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux disease); gastroesophageal reflux; reflux esophagitis; reflux disease; Reflux esophagitis; peptic esophagitis) – inflammatory disease of the esophagus (esophagitis) caused by the pathological reflux (reflux) of acid gastric juice and other gastric contents.
Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48).
- Neoplasms of the nasopharynx, unspecified.
Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98)
- Barotrauma – condition occurring primarily in divers due to rapid changes in air pressure.
Other causes
- Pressure increases in the air (aircraft, diving).
- Iatrogenic causes (causes due to medical action) – such as transnasal intubation (artificial ventilation via a breathing tube inserted through the nose), nasogastric tube (feeding tube), nasal tamponade
- Condition after radiatio (radiotherapy) in the head and neck region.
