Definition

An earache is discomfort or pain caused by an infection of the ear. The medical term for an ear infection is otitis (pronounced oh-TI-tuss).

Description

The ear consists of three parts: the external, middle, and interior ear. The external ear also consists of three parts—the auricle, the auditory canal, and the tympanic membrane. The auricle (pronounced OR-uh-kull) is the outermost part of the ear; the part you can see attached to the sides of your head. The auricle is connected to the interior parts of the ear by means of a narrow opening called the auditory canal. At the end of the auditory canal is the tympanic membrane, or eardrum.

Just beyond the tympanic membrane is the middle ear. The middle ear contains three bones called ossicles (pronounced AH-sih-kulls). These three bones are connected to the inner ear.

The middle ear also contains the eustachian (pronounced...