eustachian tube eustachian tube in anatomy, the eustachian tube, also known as the auditory tube or pharyngotympanic tube, is a tube that links the nasopharynx to the middle ear, of which it is also a part. in adult humans, the eustachian tube is approximately 35 mm (1.4 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) in diameter. it is named after the sixteenth-century italian anatomist bartolomeo eustachi. eustachian tubeexternal and middle ear. eustachian tube labelled as auditory tube.middle ear, with auditory tube at bottom rightdetailspronunciation/juːˈsteɪʃən/precursorfirst pharyngeal pouchidentifierslatintuba auditiva, tuba auditivea, tuba auditoriameshd005064ta98a15.3.02.073ta26926fma9705anatomical terminology in humans and other tetrapods, both the middle ear and the ear canal are normally filled with air. unlike the air of the ear canal, however, the air of the middle ear is not in direct contact with the atmosphere outside the body; thus, a pressure difference can develop between the atmospheric pressure of the ear canal and the middle ear. normally, the eustachian tube is collapsed, but it gapes open with swallowing and with positive pressure, allowing the middle ear's pressure to adjust to the atmospheric pressure. when taking off in an aircraft, the ambient air pressure goes from higher (on the ground) to lower (in the sky). the air in the middle ear expands as the plane gains altitude, and pushes its way into the back of the nose and mouth; on the way down, the volume of air in the middle ear shrinks, and a slight vacuum is produced. active opening of the eustachian tube (through actions like swallowing or the valsalva maneuver) is required to equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the ambient atmosphere as the plane descends. a diver also experiences this change in pressure, but with greater rates of pressure change; active opening of the eustachian tube is required more frequently as the diver goes deeper, into higher pressure. structure upper respiratory system, showing entrance to auditory tube near middle the eustachian tube has recently been redefined as the fibrocartilaginous structure connecting the air cell system of the temporal bone to the nose. what was thought of as the bony tube is really part of the air cell system of the temporal bone. 3 d reconstruction of the right eustachian tube from valsalva ct. note the sac like shape of the structure. 3d reconstruction of the air cell system of the temporal bone including the eustachian tube and its narrowest area in close proximity to the ear, the isthmus the eustachian tube extends from the anterior wall of the middle ear to the lateral wall of the nasopharynx, approximately at the level of the inferior nasal concha. it consists of a bony part and a cartilaginous part. bony part the bony part (1⁄3) nearest to the middle ear is made of bone and is about 12 mm in length. it begins in the anterior wall of the tympanic cavity, below the septum canalis musculotubarius, and, gradually narrowing, ends at the angle of junction of the squamous and the petrous parts of the temporal bone, its extremity presenting a jagged margin which serves for the attachment of the cartilaginous part. the vestibule of the eustachian tube is known as the protympanum, the protympanum is also known as the anterior part of the bony part of the tube. cartilaginous part the cartilaginous part of the eustachian tube is about 24 mm in length and is formed of a triangular plate of elastic fibrocartilage, the apex of which is attached to the margin of the medial end of the bony part of the tube, while its base lies directly under the mucous membrane of the nasal part of the pharynx, where it forms an elevation, the torus tubarius or cushion, behind the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube. the upper edge of the cartilage is curled upon itself, being bent laterally so as to present on transverse section the appearance of a hook; a groove or furrow is thus produced, which is open below and laterally, and this part of the canal is completed by fibrous membrane. the cartilage lies in a groove between the petrous part of the temporal bone and the great wing of the sphenoid; this groove ends opposite the middle of the medial pterygoid plate. the cartilaginous and bony portions of the tube are not in the same plane, the former inclining downward a little more than the latter. the diameter of the tube is not uniform throughout, being greatest at the pharyngeal opening, least at the junction of the bony and cartilaginous portions, and again increased toward the tympanic cavity; the narrowest part of the tube is termed the isthmus. the position and relations of the pharyngeal opening are described with the nasal part of the pharynx. the mucous membrane of the tube is continuous in front with that of the nasal part of the pharynx, and behind with that of the tympanic cavity; it is covered with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelia and is thin in the osseous portion, while in the cartilaginous portion it contains many mucous glands and near the pharyngeal orifice a considerable amount of adenoid tissue, which has been named by gerlach the tube tonsil. muscles there are four muscles associated with the function of the eustachian tube: levator veli palatini (innervated by the vagus nerve) salpingopharyngeus (innervated by the vagus nerve) tensor tympani (innervated by the mandibular nerve of cn v) tensor veli palatini (innervated by the mandibular nerve of cn v) the tube is opened during swallowing by contraction of the tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini, muscles of the soft palate. new anatomical perspectives since 2015, two developments have enhanced our understanding of the anatomy of the eustachian tube: valsalva computerized tomography and endoscopic ear surgery. given the greater access to the ear anatomy using endoscopic methods, it has been suggested that the bony part of the eustachian tube is really the anterior extension of the middle ear cavity, or the "protympanum". the term "eustachian tube" should be limited to the fibrocartilaginous structure connecting the protympanum to the nasopharynx. the eustachian tube is a saclike irregular structure rather than a tubular structure. the ear side of the eustchian tube is by far the narrowest segment, called isthmus, and is probably the site of possible obstructive pathology causing chronic ear disease. development the eustachian tube is derived from the dorsal part of the first pharyngeal pouch and second endodermal pouch, which during embryogenesis forms the tubotympanic recess. the distal part of the tubotympanic sulcus gives rise to the tympanic cavity, while the proximal tubular structure becomes the eustachian tube. it helps transformation of sound waves. frontal section through left ear; upper half of section view of the inner wall of the tympanum (enlarged) the right membrana tympani with the hammer and the chorda tympani, viewed from within, from behind, and from above function pressure equalization under normal circumstances, the human eustachian tube is closed, but it can open to let a small amount of air through to prevent damage by equalizing pressure between the middle ear and the atmosphere. pressure differences cause temporary conductive hearing loss by decreased motion of the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the ear. various methods of ear clearing such as yawning, swallowing, or chewing gum may be used to intentionally open the tube and equalize pressures. when this happens, humans hear a small popping sound, an event familiar to aircraft passengers, scuba divers, or drivers in mountainous regions. devices assisting in pressure equalization include an ad hoc balloon applied to the nose, creating inflation by positive air pressure. some people learn to voluntarily 'click' their ears, together or separately, performing a pressure equalizing routine by opening their eustachian tubes when pressure changes are experienced, as in ascending/descending in aircraft, mountain driving, elevator lift/drops, etc. some are even able to deliberately keep their eustachian tubes open for a brief period, and even increase or decrease air pressure in the middle ear. the 'clicking' can actually be heard by putting one's ear to another's while performing the clicking sound. this voluntary control may be first discovered when yawning or swallowing, or by other means (above). those who develop this ability may discover that it can be done deliberately without force even when there are no pressure issues involved. mucus drainage the eustachian tube also drains mucus from the middle ear. upper respiratory tract infections or allergies can cause the eustachian tube, or the membranes surrounding its opening to become swollen, trapping fluid, which serves as a growth medium for bacteria, causing ear infections. this swelling can be reduced through the use of decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline, and phenylephrine. ear infections are more common in children because the tube is horizontal and shorter, making bacterial entry easier, and it also has a smaller diameter, making the movement of fluid more difficult. in addition, children's developing immune systems and poor hygiene habits make them more prone to upper respiratory infections. clinical significance