See Also: auditory tube(medicine)
Auditory tube(health)
air cells of auditory tube(medicine)
mucosa of auditory tube(medicine)
cartilage of auditory tube(medicine)
groove for auditory tube(medicine)
septum of auditory tube(medicine)
saemicanal of auditory tube(medicine)
isthmus of auditory tube(medicine)
glands of auditory tube(medicine)

auditory tube (medicine)


auditory tube


A tube leading from the tympanic cavity to the nasopharynx; it consists of an osseous (posterolateral) portion at the tympanic end, and a fibrocartilaginous (anteromedial) portion at the pharyngeal end; where the two portions join, in the region of the sphenopetrosal fissure, is the narrowest portion of the tube (isthmus); the auditory tube enables equalization of pressure within the tympanic cavity with ambient air pressure, referred to commonly as "popping of the ears".

Synonym: tuba auditiva, tuba auditoria, eustachian tube, guttural duct, otopharyngeal tube, otosalpinx, pharyngotympanic tube, salpinx, tuba acustica, tuba eustachiana, tuba eustachii.