What does a healthy ear drum look like?

In a normal, healthy ear the ear canal appears the same color as the skin and the eardrum is a light gray or pearly white. The eardrum is not bulging outward and should reflect light.

How does a normal ear canal look?

Normally, the canal is skin-colored and has small hairs. Yellowish-brown earwax may be present. The eardrum is a light-gray color or a shiny pearly-white. Light should reflect off the eardrum surface.

What are the landmarks of a healthy tympanic membrane?

The tympanic membrane is home to several iconic landmarks that are useful during medical diagnosis: the umbo, the cone of light, the pars flaccida (shrapnell’s membrane), the pars tensa, and the anular ligament. In a healthy ear drum you can sometimes see the manubrium of the malleus and the long process of the incus.

How should the tympanic membrane appear?

The normal tympanic membrane is in the neutral position (neither retracted nor bulging), pearly gray, translucent and responding briskly to positive and negative pressure, indicating an air-filled space.

How do you check for ear wax?

Your doctor can determine whether you have earwax blockage by looking in your ear with a special instrument that lights and magnifies your inner ear (otoscope).

How can you tell the difference between the right and left tympanic membrane?

The key difference between right and left tympanic membrane is that cone-shaped light reflection of the otoscope light is seen at the 4 o’clock to 5 o’clock position in the right tympanic membrane while cone-shaped light reflection of the otoscope light is seen at the 7 o’clock to 8 o’clock position in the left …

What landmarks can we see on the eardrum?

The most prominate landmark on the tympanic membrane is the malleus handle. The pars tensa forms the majority of the membrane with the pars flaccida in a triangular shape superiorly.

How long does the tympanic membrane take to heal?

A ruptured (perforated) eardrum usually heals on its own within weeks. In some cases, healing takes months. Until your doctor tells you that your ear is healed, protect it by: Keeping your ear dry.

What does a dull tympanic membrane mean?

A dull tympanic membrane (dull ear drum) occurs when something is wrong with the middle ear, such as an infection, inconsistent pressure in the ear,… See full answer below.

What is the tympanic membrane commonly known as?

The tympanic membrane, more commonly known as the eardrum, is a membrane that divides the inner and outer ear.

Is the tympanic membrane part of the outer or middle ear?

Your eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane, is a thin layer of tissue that separates the outer part of your ear from your middle ear.

What does tympanic membrane is retracted mean?

Retracted eardrum. The eardrum is a flexible, very thin membrane which separates the middle ear from the outer ear. It is medically referred to as the tympanic membrane. A retracted eardrum refers to a condition wherein the eardrum gets pulled or sucked into the area occurring behind it.