Different kinds of biological gas pockets and the special character of the middle ear as a gas pocket are discussed. The pattern of gas absorption from the normal middle ear and from ears with blocked Eustachian tubes is presented. The amount of gas leaving the ear by diffusion and the resulting underpressure from this process are determined. The composition of air in the ear is compared to that in experimental gas pockets and the role of the partial pressures of CO2 and O2 in secretory otitis media is discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
RahnH: The role of N2 gas in various biological processes with particular reference to the lung, in The Harvey Lectures, Series 55. SUNY, Buffalo, New York, 1961, pp 173–199.
2.
RahnHCanfieldRE: Volume changes and steady state behaviour of gas pockets within body cavities. WADC TR 357, 1955.
3.
ElnerÅ: Gas diffusion through the tympanic membrane. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)69:185, 1970.
4.
ElnerÅIngelstedtSIvarssonA: A method for studies of the middle ear mechanics. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)72:191, 1971.
5.
ElnerÅ: Indirect determination of gas absorption from the middle ear. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)74:191, 1972.
6.
IngelstedtSIvarssonAJonsonB: Mechanics of the human middle ear. Acta Otolaryngol [Suppl.] (Stockh)228, 1967.
7.
RiuRFlottesLBoucheJ: La Physiologie de la Trompe d'Eustache.Paris, Librairie Amette, 1966.
8.
IngelstedtSJonsonB: Mechanism of the gas exchange in the normal human middle ear. Acta Otolaryngol [Suppl.] (Stockh)224:452, 1967.
9.
van DishoeckHAE: Negative pressure and loss of hearing in tubal catarrh. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)29:303–312, 1941.
10.
Melvill JonesG: Pressure changes in the middle ear after altering the composition of contained gas. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)53:1, 1961.
11.
van LiewHD: Tissue PO2 and O2 estimation with rat subcutaneous gas pockets. J Appl Physiol17:851, 1962.
12.
IngelstedtSJonsonBRundcrantzH: Gas tension and pH in middle ear effusion. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol84:198–207, 1975.
