The build up of fluid in the ear from infections has been known for at least 2500 years and has been described since the time of Hippocrates, the father of medicine. Fluid in the middle ear cavity may hamper conduction of sound, leading to partial deafness. Drainage of the ear cavity through an incision made in the ear drum (myringotomy) was first described in the 18th century as a means to cure deafness.

Anatomy and Physiology

• The external auditory meatus (ear canal) develops as an ingrowth from the side of the face. The middle ear cavity develops as an outgrowth from the back of the throat (Figure 1). This connection from the middle ear to the throat remains as the Eustachian tube. The junction of the external ear canal and the middle ear cavity forms the tympanic membrane (ear drum)

Figure 1 - The tympanic membrane (ear drum) forms from an ingrowth from the skin of the face and an outgrowth from the throat starting as small buds and progressing towards each other. The facial ingrowth forms the external auditory meatus (canal) and the throat outgrowth forms the Eustachian tube. © T. Graves.