Otalgia is ear pain or an earache. Primary otalgia is from pain that originates inside the ear. Referred otalgia is from pain that originates from outside the ear.
Typical sources of primary otalgia are external otitis, otitis media, mastoiditis, auricular infections, and, rarely, GERD. Dental disorders are the most common cause of referred otalgia. These include temporomandibular joint disorders, bruxism, and abscessedteeth. Tonsillitis and pharyngitis are also common causes of earaches in children. Otitis media (also known as glue ear) is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually associated with a buildup of fluid and frequently causes an earache. ... Mastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid process, the portion of the temporal bone of the skull that is behind the ear. ... Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD, or GORD when -oesophageal, the BE form, is substituted) is injury to the esophagus that develops from chronic exposure of the esophagus to acid coming up from the stomach (reflux). ... Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), or TMJ syndrome, is an acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the lower jaw to the skull. ... Bruxism (derived from Greek βÏυγμός, male noun - grinding [teeth]) is grinding of the teeth. ... Abscess An abscess is a collection of pus collected in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infectious process (usually caused by bacteria or parasites) or other foreign materials (e. ... Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... The Palatine tonsils. ... Pharyngitis is a painful inflammation of the pharynx, and is colloquially referred to as a sore throat. ... A female child A child (plural: children) is a young human. ...
By definition, referred otalgia is the sensation of ear pain originating from a source outside the ear.
Pathophysiology: The sensory innervation of the ear is served by the auriculotemporal branch of the fifth cranial nerve (CN V), the first and second cervical nerves, the Jacobson branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve, the Arnold branch of the vagus nerve, and the Ramsey Hunt branch of the facial nerve.
Neuroanatomically, the sensation of otalgia is thought to center in the spinal tract nucleus of CN V. Not surprisingly, fibers from CNs V, VII, VIV, and X and cervical nerves 1, 2, and 3 have been found to enter this spinal tract nucleus caudally near the medulla.
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