Drum
Drum (medical)
Drum (/drʌm/), in the medical context, refers to the tympanic membrane or eardrum, a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. The term is derived from the Old English 'drum', meaning 'a beaten thing', due to its resemblance to a drumhead.
Anatomy
The tympanic membrane is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. It is made up of three layers: the outer layer (epidermis), the middle layer (fibrous tissue), and the inner layer (mucosa). The tympanic membrane plays a crucial role in the process of hearing by vibrating in response to sound waves and transmitting these vibrations to the ossicles, the tiny bones in the middle ear.
Related Terms
- Otitis Media: An inflammation of the middle ear, often caused by infection. This condition can cause pain, fever, and sometimes hearing loss.
- Tympanoplasty: A surgical procedure to repair a damaged tympanic membrane or middle ear bones.
- Tympanometry: A test used to detect disorders of the middle ear.
- Myringotomy: A surgical procedure in which a small incision is made in the eardrum to relieve pressure caused by excessive buildup of fluid or to drain pus from the middle ear.
Etymology
The term 'drum' in the context of the tympanic membrane comes from the Old English 'drum', meaning 'a beaten thing'. This is due to the tympanic membrane's resemblance to a drumhead, both in appearance and in function (as it vibrates in response to sound waves, much like a drumhead vibrates when struck).
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Drum
- Wikipedia's article - Drum
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