ABSTRACT
The external ear is made up of the auricle or pinna and the external auditory meatus (EAM). Its function is to collect and transmit sound to the tympanic membrane. The nerve supply of the external ear is surprisingly complex. The skin of the lateral surface of the tympanic membrane and ear canal is unusual. Ear wax blocking the EAM is probably the most common ear problem in the general population. Wax-softening agents such as sodium bicarbonate ear drops are the first line of treatment. Ear syringing involves flushing the ear with warm water to wash out any wax or debris. Scratching the ear canal with a fingernail or cotton-bud causes local trauma and allows a portal of entry for infection, with further inflammation. Knowledge of the nerve supply of the ear is important as patients may present with otalgia referred to the ear by stimulation of these nerves elsewhere in their course.
