What is ear wax ?
Ear wax is basically brownish coloured collection of secretion in the external auditory canal of the ear.
What is external auditory canal ?
To comprehend "what is external auditory canal" and where it is found, let us discuss the structure or anatomy of the ear. Human ear basically has three parts.
a. External ear.
b. Middle ear.
c. Internal ear.
External ear can further be divided into following parts:-
a. Pinna. It is basically the outermost part of the ear, which we all know and can see.
b. External auditory canal. It is the canal or meatus which we can see from the outer ear as a dark canal.
c. Tympanic membrane. At the end of the external auditory canal there is a membrane which is called tympanic membrane or eardrum. After that there is middle ear and inner ear which we can not see from outside.
Now coming onto the external auditory canal, which is present between pinna and eardrum or tympanic membrane. In this canal there are small hair and glands which produce specific secretions.
These secretions have specific functions in our ear like they have specific odour which act as insect repellent. Hence, in this way insects kept away from getting entry into the ear. These secretions have germicidal effects due to which all the unnecessary germs like bacteria got killed and cannot cause any infection in the ear until skin of external auditory canal is intact. These secretions are sticky because of that dust particles which are entering into the ear trapped. These secretions also have many other specific functions as well.
How ear wax produces in the ear ?
In the ear, skin debris and dust particles mixed with sticky external auditory canal secretions and form wax.
Why wax is beneficial ?
Ear wax has many important benefits. Some important benefits are as follows:-
a. It acts as insect repellent. Insect do not enter into ear due to its specific odour. Otherwise, every insect has tendency to enter into canal or pathway like our ear canal.
b. It protects our tympanic membrane or eardrum. For example, if any foreign body enters into the ear it will stick in the wax present in ear canal and foreign body will not get access to eardrum in this way it will not damage the eardrum.
c. It protects the ear from sudden noise trauma. For example, if there is any blast due to any reason most of the sound waves will be absorbed by the wax present in the ear canal and less sound waves will reach to the drum and inner ear in this way wax protects inner ear from sudden noise trauma.
d. It protects the eardrum from sudden impact. For example, if anyone slapped a person at the face and ear, wax in the ear canal will absorb mechanical impact or compression waves and it will protect eardrum, that otherwise will be damaged more.
Why not to remove ear wax at home ?
As it is described earlier that our ear canal also has small hair. These hair beats outwards so that the extra wax can be removed from the ear canal automatically. Hence, there is no need to use ear buds or any other things to clean the ear as ear can clean its canal by itself. When a person uses the ear buds to clean his ear, these ear buds damage the little hair present in the canal and the process of auto-cleaning stops. Ear buds also push the wax further deep, into the canal and it starts to accumulate and gets packed in deep area of the canal. Ear buds can also cause injury of ear canal or injury of ear drum.
When to remove the ear wax ?
Ear wax should only be removed when it causes pain in the ear or gives blocking sensation. Otherwise, there is no need to remove it manually.
It is important to note that ear wax should only be removed from the hospital or ENT clinic. It should not be removed at homes.
Ear is sensitive part of body, treat it with great care, protect it and do not cause any harm to it while giving injuries.
You must be logged in to post a comment.