Eustachian Tube Problems Center - Belleville, IL
Belleville Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor Doctors for Eustachian Tube ProblemsType of Physician: Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor What is a Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor? A certification by the Board of Otolaryngology; practitioners provide comprehensive medical and surgical care of patients with diseases and disorders that affect the ears, the respiratory and upper alimentary systems (nose, mouth and throat) and related structures. Specialty: Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology) Common Name: Ear, Nose, Throat Doctor Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor Doctors in Belleville * Wallace P Berkowitz MD  Ear Nose & Throat Institute of Southern Illinois  Ear Nose & Throat Institute of Southern Illinois  Larry C Dobbs MD  Lloyd E Thompson MD  Illinois Ear Nose & Throat  Illinois Ear Nose & Throat  ENT & Sleep Medicine Associates, llc  Illini Medical Associates  Prashant Shah MD  Jacques Papazian MD  Midwest ENT Clinic  Delaney Clinic  Springfield Clinic Main Campus West ENT  Springfield Clinic Main Campus West ENT  Springfield Clinic Main Campus West ENT  Springfield Clinic Main Campus E Otolaryngology  SIU School of Medicine Division of Otolaryngology  SIU School of Medicine Division of Otolaryngology  SIU School of Medicine Division of Otolaryngology  SIU School of Medicine Division of Otolaryngology  SIU School of Medicine Division of Otolaryngology  SIU School of Medicine Division of Otolaryngology Belleville, IllinoisUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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Eustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears)Read the Eustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears) article » What is the Eustachian tube?The Eustachian tube is a tube that originates in the back of the nose, runs a slightly uphill course, and ends in the middle ear space. The middle ear space is the hollowed out portion of the skull bone that contains the hearing apparatus and is covered on one side by the eardrum. In adults, the Eustachian tube is approximately 35 mm long (1.3 inches) and approximately 3 mm in diameter (less than 1/10 inch). Cartilage provides the supporting structure for the first two-thirds of the Eustachian tube, with the last third (the part closest to the middle ear space) being made of bone. The tissue that lines the Eustachian tube is similar to that inside the nasal cavity and may respond the same way (swelling) when presented with similar stimuli. The Eustachian tube was named in honor of the 16th century Italian anatomiast Eustachius. Sources credit Almaceon of Sparta as the first to describe the structure in approximately 400 BC.
What are the functions of the Eustachian tube?The primary function of the Eustachian tube is to ventilate the middle ear space, ensuring that its pressure remains at near normal ambient air pressure. The secondary function of the Eustachian tube is to drain any accumulated secretions, infection, or debris from the middle ear space. Several small muscles located in the back of the throat and palate control the opening and closing of the tube. Swallowing and yawning cause contractions of these muscles and help to regulate Eustachian tube function. If it were not for the Eustachian tube, the middle ear cavity would be an isolated air pocket inside the head that would be vulnerable to every change in air pressure and lead to an unhealthy ear. Normally, the Eustachian tube is closed, which helps prevent the inadvertent contamination of the middle ear space by the normal secretions found in the back of the nose. A dysfunctional E... Read the Eustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears) article » Recommended Reading Related to Eustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears)Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Its Prevention » What is the importance of noise-induced hearing loss?The industrial and technological revolution may have propelled society to higher levels of achievement, but this progress has also made the world a noisier place in which to live. In fact, noise pollution is a growing health hazard and can be found almost everywhere. Car alarms, leaf blowers, gunshots, boom boxes, and traffic congestion fill our cities with decibels (the measure of sound intensity). Escaping to the country may not provide a quiet refuge, and even farmers are at high risk for exposure to noise from their farm machinery. What's more, potentially harmful noise is not necessarily unpleasant or unwanted. For example, the music at a concert and the pounding of a jackhammer on the street can be equally damaging to the inner ear. The reason for this is that any sounds (acoustic energies) delivered with equal intensity, regardless of their source, are equally dangerous. Eventually, continued ... Read the Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Its Prevention article » Other Related Eustachian Tube Problems ArticlesEmergency Contact for Belleville
Nearby Belleville Hospitals *St Elizabeth's Hospital Belleville Memorial Hospital Belleville Touchette Regional Hospital Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital St Alexius Hospital Broadway Campus Gateway Regional Medical Center SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center Anderson Hospital Saint Louis University Hospital St Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division St Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis St Louis Children's Hospital Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus Barnes-Jewish Hospital North Campus Kindred Hospital St Louis Forest Park Community Hospital Select Specialty Hospital St Louis Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center SSM Rehab SSM St Mary's Health Center Red Bud Regional Hospital  Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital  St Anthony's Medical Center  Kindred Hospital St Anthony's  Christian Hospital NE  St Joseph's Hospital of Highland  Shriners Hospital for Children  St Luke's Urgent Care Center in Fenton  Des Peres Hospital  Missouri Baptist Medical Center  St Joseph's Hospital Breese  Northwest HealthCare  SSM St Clare Health Center  St John's Mercy Medical Center  Ranken Jordan Pediatric Rehabilitation  St Clare's Hospital  Alton Memorial Hospital  Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital  Dubuis Hospital of St Louis  Jefferson Regional Medical Center  St Anthony's Health Center  SSM DePaul Health Center  St Luke's Hospital  St John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital  Sparta Community Hospital  SSM St Joseph Health Center  St Luke's Urgent Care Center on Clarkson Road  Washington County Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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