Tympanic cavity of infection or for some other reason, it can be drained by puncturing the tympanic membrane with a large bore needle (tympanocentesis). Tympanic cavity The tympanic cavity is a small cavity surrounding the bones of the middle ear. Within it sit the ossicles, three small bones that transmit vibrations used in the detection of sound. On its lateral surface, it abuts the external auditory meatus [ ear canal ] from which it is separated by the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The tympanic cavity is bounded by: It is formed from the tubotympanic recess, an expansion of the first pharyngeal pouch. If
Tympanic nerve then distributed via the auriculotemporal nerve (branch of the trigeminal nerve) to the parotid gland. This nerve may be involved by paraganglioma, in this location referred to as glomus jugulare or glomus tympanicum tumours. Tympanic nerve The tympanic nerve (nerve of Jacobson) is a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve found near the ear. It arises from the petrous ganglion, and ascends to the tympanic cavity through a small canal, the inferior tympanic canaliculus, on the under surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone on the ridge which separates the carotid canal from the jugular fossa. In the tympanic