Eustachian tube is a bony and fibrocartilagenous tube extending from the antero-inferior part of middle ear cleft to lateral wall of the nasopharynx. Its main functions are ventilation of middle ear to equalize the middle ear pressure with atmospheric pressure and mucociliary clearance. The functioning of eustachian tube has a direct impact on normal middle ear function. As a corollary, dysfunction of eustachian tube inevitably leads to retraction of the tympanic membrane initially and sterile effusion and subsequent conductive deafness later. Secretory otitis media today is the most common cause of conductive deafness in children with an intact ear drum.
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