Tympanic Membrane

The tympanic membrane, commonly called the eardrum, is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the outer ear canal from the middle ear. It vibrates in response to incoming sound waves and transmits those vibrations to the malleus, the first of the three ossicles in the middle ear. A healthy tympanic membrane is translucent, pearl-gray, and moves freely in response to pressure changes.

It is sensitive to damage from sudden pressure changes, infection, insertion of objects into the ear canal, or very loud sounds. A perforated (ruptured) tympanic membrane can cause pain, sudden hearing reduction, and discharge from the ear. Small perforations often heal on their own over weeks. Larger or persistent perforations may require surgical repair (tympanoplasty) to restore the membrane and improve hearing.

The tympanic membrane is examined during otoscopy and its mobility is assessed by tympanometry, both of which are standard components of an audiological assessment.