8 ear cleaning

Using the microscope and suction to clear the ear canal

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ENT
• SHO
• training
• examination

[ceaserthekiller5]

why do we have ear wax

[scrotopolis2000]

@ceaserthekiller5 - it comes from specially adapted sweat glands in the ear canal.

It traps dirt and dust particles and stops them from remaining in the ear canal. It also has mild antibacterial properties.

The ear canal is well evolved to clean out its own wax so don't worry about having to remove it yourself.

[ScopedOUT2]

@scrotopolis2000 how exactly do our ears clean out the wax on their own? If it's a nice natural method I may just stop buying Q-tips. Sometimes, I feel like I push more wax in than I take out.

[scrotopolis2000]

@ScopedOUT2 The skin of the ear canal slowly moves to the outside, taking the wax along with it. The risk with Q-tips is exactly that: they push in more wax than they remove.

[supaslim]

the tympanic membrane IS the ear drum

[trishy015]

@WolfeBane84 You have to clean it yourself, otherwise your going to an ear doctor to have them scoop out globs and globs of nasty ear wax. Hense the reason, Qtips and ear cleaning hooks

[sayyadina]

it would scare me... what if the doctor lost his balance and fell forward? what if there was an earthquake?

[WolfeBane84]

@scrotopolis2000 well evolved to clean it out. How long does that take? And are you sure? I mean if i let it go it gets really filled up even after a week or 2, and I can always hear better after I clean it myself.

[bcarbonate]

oh ya. thnx a lot !

[bcarbonate]

i cant sleep .. thats why im watching it

[lomeo64]

Hey Ceaser, I am a healthcare Professional: In cases of extreme ear wax, it must be removed 1-so the patient can hear, 2- In case of infection, there is no way the meds could ever reach the tympanic membrane. 3-The ear drum can perforate with too much pressure. you are correct as some ear wax is needed as a filter, but that is normal ear wax esp medial to the canal.