The Connection Between Nose, Throat and Ears - How Exactly It Works?

The interconnectedness of the ear, nose and throat is probably the 5th grade science and still knowing about the world of these three intricately connected organs will never fail to amuse us.

Even though our entire body obeys the butterfly effect in the theory of chaos, no other organs in our system can relate to each other as much as the nose, throat and ears do.

The love to share with each other -

Even though all organs in our body are directly or indirectly connected or interdependent, nose, throat and ears share a special bond that goes beyond just sharing and supporting. These organs almost work like one system and when there is a disturbance in one organ, the others will follow it.

This is the very reason why whenever there is an ailment such as congestion, infection, and swelling in any of the lot, the other organs reflect it without fail. For example, it is almost impossible for someone with a nose problem to dodge the illness in the throat or in the ear.

The connection between these three is so strong that even in the medical world, there are no separate specialists for nose, ear or throat and any issue related to any of these organs will be treated by the ENT specialists.

What drives the connection between nose, throat and ears to work the way it works?

The science behind the way this connection works is a simple math! The nose, ear and throat are connected with a tube-like structure, medically known as pharyngotympanic tube. This makes an easy passage for the bacteria and viruses to travel in between.

As the interconnectedness is all about the structure of these three organs, let’s have a look into the structural parts of each organ for a better understanding.

• Nose - Compared to the other three in the system, the nose takes a plethora of illnesses. Structurally, it is divided into 2 major parts known as anterior nose, also known as the visible part of the nose, and the posterior nose. The posterior nose directly connected to the throat by the pharyngotympanic tube.
• Throat - Throat could be divided into 3 parts. Nasopharynx which is located right behind the posterior part of the nose, the 2nd part known as oropharynx which is behind the mouth, and the 3rd part known as the laryngopharynx which hosts the voice box.
• Ears - Each ear is segregated into 3 parts. Outer, middle and inner ear. Middle ear and the throat are connected by the same tube that completes the cycle of interconnection.

This entire system is housed in the skull cavities called sinuses. This whole system determines our sensory capabilities such as smell and taste. Additionally, it plays a defining role in the way we breathe.

In fact, there is no denying that this whole system determines a person’s quality of living which makes it essential for us to take good care of it.

Treatment for various conditions of nose, throat and ears -

An infection in the ear could be passed onto the throat and a congestion in the nose could lead to ear ailments. As listing down all the infections is a mammoth task considering they are plentiful, here are a few ENT conditions that are common and you might want to look out for.

• Nose conditions - Nasal conditions affect the ability of smell, breathe and even sleep. The conditions include common cold, chronic sinusitis, sleep disorders, and deviated septum.
• Throat conditions - Common cold can lead to sore and strep throat. Other common throat conditions would be reflexes, strep throat, adenoids and tonsillitis can cause issues in the ears leading to reduced hearing and ear pain.
• Ear conditions - Ear infections can lead to pressure and balance related issues, dizziness, pain and allergies. If left untreated, these conditions may lead to hearing impairments.

If you are facing any of the above health conditions, consult your nearest ENT specialist for medical help.

Each ENT issue will have a significant impact on our day to day life. Considering this, it is imperative to seek medical help at the earliest.