A
pipe leading from the
tympanic cavity to the nasopharynx; it consists of an
osseous (posterolateral) portion at the
tympanic end, and a
fibrocartilaginous (anteromedial) portion at the
pharyngeal end; where the
two portions join, in the
region of the
sphenopetrosal fissure, is the narrowest portion of the
pipe (isthmus); the
auditory pipe enables equalization of pressure
within the
tympanic cavity with
ambient air pressure, referred to commonly as "popping of the ears".
Synonym:
tuba auditiva,
tuba auditoria,
eustachian pipe,
guttural duct,
otopharyngeal pipe, otosalpinx, pharyngotympanic pipe, salpinx,
tuba acustica,
tuba eustachiana,
tuba eustachii.