ABSTRACT
Disorders affecting the ear, nose and sinus are common reasons for primary care attendance; however, few surgeons will encounter such diseases in day-to-day practice. The mammalian ear is an evolutionary masterpiece. Its highly complex ‘three-dimensional anatomy’ is best learnt by dissecting cadaver temporal bones. The external and middle ear develop from the first two branchial arches. The lymphatics of the external ear drain to the retroauricular, parotid, retropharyngeal and deep upper cervical lymph nodes. The inner ear comprises the cochlea and vestibular labyrinth. Movement of the stapes footplate causes a pressure wave through the perilymph, resulting in vibration of the basilar membrane and a shearing motion between the tops of the hair cells and the tectorial membrane. A haematoma of the pinna occurs when blood collects under the perichondrium. Foreign bodies in the ear canal are most easily removed at the first attempt by an experienced practitioner with the aid of a microscope.
