Functional abnormality of the middle ear

What it means

An abnormality of the function of the middle ear.

The middle ear comprises the tympanic cavity in the temporal bone of the skull behind the eardrum, and is separated from the outer ear by the ear drum. The tympanic cavity contains the auditory ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes) that vibrate when exposed to sound, forming a chain that extends to the oval window of the inner ear and whose main function is to amplify sound. Additionally, the middle ear connects to the back of the throat and nose through the Eustachian tube.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category