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Article: Ear infections, part 1. (What Parents Want To Know About...)
- Article from:
- Pediatrics for Parents
- Article date:
- March 1, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Anatomically, the ear is divided into three distinct parts, named, unimaginatively, the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Although infections in any of these areas is technically an ear infection, the organisms. reasons for disease, and treatments of infections in each of these areas are totally different.
Outer Ear
The outer ear contains the external ear canal. It begins in the opening in the earlobe and dead ends at the ear drum (tympanic membrane or TM). This canal conducts sounds to the ear drum. The ear canal contains ear wax or cerumen (affectionately known as potatoes). Cerumen helps keep the skin in the ear canal lubricated and its bitterness ...