Cerumen

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Complications 3 Management 4 More General Terms 5 Additional Terms 6 References

Introduction

• Formed from dead epithelial cells, hair & secretions of sebaceous glands & modified apocrine sweat glands that line the skin of the cartilaginous auditory canal. Cerumen is normally extruded by motion of ear cilia in combination with movement of the jaw.
  

• Cerumen is normally honey-colored to dark brown. The darker the color of cerumen, the longer it has been exposed to air. Dry cerumen is usually light grey & becomes brittle, ashlike & flaky or scaly.
  
• Reduced activity & number of sebaceous glands & apocrine sweat glands correlates with a drier, more viscous cerumen [2]
  
• Also see dry earwax phenotype

Complications

• cerumen impactation
• the presence of white, cheesy or mucous material suggests otitis externa

Management

• unnecessary to remove cerumen unless

• hearing loss
• symptoms requiring visualization of the auditory canal or tympanic membrane

• also see ear wax removal

More General Terms

• extracellular compartment (extracellular space)
• body fluid

Additional Terms

• cerumen impactation (obstruction)
• dry earwax phenotype
• ear wax removal

References

1. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, 15 American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998, 2009
2. Geriatrics Review Syllabus, American Geriatrics Society, 5th edition, 2002-2004

cerumen