What exactly happens when you need to “pop” your ears. Even when there in no increase in altitude.
In: Biology
You have theses tubes connecting the different orifices of your face together called Eustachian tubes. They are used for drainage and sometimes air gets trapped in there. Typically you don’t really notice but an increase of altitude makes it very uncomfortable. Therefore you “pop” your ears and relieve the pressure.
Like other comments say, there are estachian tubes that connect your inner ears to your throat, which is at atmospheric pressure give or take. The tubes are usually closed, so the air in your ear can’t balance with the air outside. They are closed because the pressure in your throat is always changing as you breathe in and out – some people can hold the tubes open at will and literally hear themselves breathing. Ear drums are just as sensitive to internal pressure change as they are to external pressure change – and all sound is is pressure change.
As outside pressure goes up or down, it pushes your eardrum one way or the other (depending on which side has higher pressure). This puts your eardrum in tension and makes it move less when sound hits it. This is why things seem quieter when you need to pop your ears.
The actual act of popping your ears happens when the tubes open temporarily. This can happen on its own, or you can make it happen. Some people hold their nose closed and blow, which puts enough pressure on the tubes to open them. Some people can also open them by moving their face muscles the right way (which is why some people pop their ears by making a yawning or head-tilting movement).
The reason you sometimes get the need to pop your ears even without altitude change is because lots of things can cause pressure differences, not just altitude. Examples include temperature, other weather, or even yourself in the form of a good sniffle, which can suck air down the tubes.
Edit: Some people have conditions like sinus issues which make it difficult or impossible for them/their bodies to open the tubes. These people can have tiny little tubes installed directly into their eardrums which equalize the pressure. Don’t worry though, after a while the hole in the eardrum heals and pushes the tube out.
Also side note, there are two little eyelash-sized muscles behind your eardrum that can pull it into tension, which as I mentioned before, makes things quiet. They do it reflexively when something loud happens, which is why everything gets quiet after a very loud noise like a firework show or gunshot. In some people these muscles can act up and twitch, kindof like your eyelid twitches when you’re stressed, and cause constant little random thumping sounds. These people can have those little muscles cut to stop the noise.
Latest Answers