øretuben

øretuben, commonly translated as the Eustachian tube, is a narrow canal that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx. It plays a key role in ventilating the middle ear, equalizing pressure on both sides of the eardrum, and draining secretions from the middle ear into the throat. In daily life, the tube opens briefly during swallowing, yawning, or chewing, allowing air to pass and fluids to clear.

Anatomy and function: The tube is about 30 millimeters long in adults and consists of a bony (osseous) portion near the middle ear and a cartilaginous portion toward the nasopharynx. Normally, the tube remains closed and opens transiently under the action of the muscles of the soft palate, particularly the tensor veli palatini and the levator veli palatini. Its horizontal alignment and relative immaturity in children contribute to greater susceptibility to dysfunction.

Clinical relevance: Proper function maintains comfortable hearing and protects the middle ear from nasopharyngeal secretions and pressure changes. When the tube fails to open adequately or becomes blocked, negative pressure can develop in the middle ear, leading to otitis media with effusion and a sense of fullness or muffled hearing. Allergies, upper respiratory infections, eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), adenoid hypertrophy, and smoking exposure are common risk factors.

Diagnosis and treatment: Evaluation includes otoscopy, tympanometry, and hearing tests. Treatment targets the underlying cause and may involve nasal saline, intranasal corticosteroids, decongestants (short-term), and management of allergies. Persistent middle-ear effusion or recurrent infections may be treated with tympanostomy tubes (grommets) by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Patient education and monitoring are important, as many ETD cases resolve with time or after treating contributing conditions.

History: The term øretuben is the Danish/Norwegian name for the Eustachian tube, named after the Italian anatomist Eustachio (Bartholomeus Eustachius), who first described the structure in the 16th century. See also Eustachian tube and otitis media.