Exostoses and Osteomas of External Auditory Canal

Definitions

• 1. Exostosis – Non-neoplastic bony outgrowth that projects from the surface of a bone or root of a tooth.

• 2. Osteoma – Benign, slow growing bony tumor often originating from skull or facial bones.

• 3. Periosteum – Dense connective tissue membrane that closely invests the surface of bones except at articular surfaces. Its outer layer consists of blood vessels and nerves that nourish and innervate the underlying bone. The inner layer contains osteoblasts which play a role in bone formation and remodeling.

• 4. Otitis externa – Inflammation of the skin of the external auditory canal, most commonly due to bacterial infection.

• 5. Canalplasty – Surgical procedure performed to restore the normal width and bony contour of the external auditory canal.

• 6. Tympanic membrane – Thin membrane which transmits vibrations produced by sound waves from the outer ear to the ossicular chain in the middle ear. It is also known as the eardrum.

Introduction

External auditory canal exostoses and...