This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Spread of infection

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Infection in the middle ear can be serious because of the proximity of vital structures:

  • facial nerve - runs through the middle ear, and may be damaged as part of an inflammatory reaction

  • mastoid air cells - posterior to the middle ear and themselves, adjacent to the posterior fossa containing the cerebellum, and the lateral sinus

  • vestibular labyrinth - medially; chronic suppuration may erode through the lateral semicircular canal allowing bacteria to gain access to the inner ear

  • middle cranial fossa containing the temporal lobe - superiorly

See complications of otitis media for further details.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.