Eardrum

Eardrum
Eardrum
Anatomy of the Human Ear.svg
Anatomy of the human ear.
View-normal-tympanic-membrane.png
Right tympanic membrane as seen through a speculum.
Latin membrana tympani
Gray's subject #230 1039
MeSH Tympanic+Membrane+Lydia
Dorlands/Elsevier Tympanic membrane

The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear in humans and other tetrapods. Its function is to transmit sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear. The malleus bone bridges the gap between the eardrum and the other ossicles. Rupture or perforation of the eardrum can lead to conductive hearing loss.

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Intentional rupture

The Bajau people of the Pacific intentionally rupture their eardrums at an early age in order to facilitate diving and hunting at sea. Many older Bajau are therefore hard of hearing.[1]

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Eardrum — Album par Talib Kweli Sortie 21 août 2007 Enregistrement 2006 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Eardrum — Ear drum , n. (Anat.) The tympanum. See Illust. of {Ear}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eardrum — (n.) 1640s, from EAR (Cf. ear) (1) + DRUM (Cf. drum) (n.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • eardrum — ► NOUN ▪ the membrane of the middle ear, which vibrates in response to sound waves …   English terms dictionary

  • eardrum — [ir′drum΄] n. TYMPANUM (sense 1) …   English World dictionary

  • eardrum — n. a perforated eardrum * * * [ ɪədrʌm] a perforated eardrum …   Combinatory dictionary

  • eardrum — UK [ˈɪə(r)drʌm] / US [ˈɪrˌdrʌm] noun [countable] Word forms eardrum : singular eardrum plural eardrums a piece of tightly stretched skin inside your ear that vibrates when sound reaches it …   English dictionary

  • eardrum — Synonyms and related words: Eustachian tube, allantoic membrane, amnion, amniotic sac, anvil, arachnoid membrane, auditory apparatus, auditory canal, auditory meatus, auditory nerve, auditory ossicles, auditory tube, auricle, basement membrane,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • eardrum — /ˈɪədrʌm / (say eardrum) noun the tympanic membrane …  

  • Eardrum (disambiguation) — Eardrum can refer to:* Eardrum, a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. * Eardrum (album), an album by Talib Kweli * Eardrum Records, a record label …   Wikipedia

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