Middle Ear Clearance

continual muscle stimulation. However, this stepwise de­ crease of tympanic pressure could always be reproduced by releasing this negative pressure to ambient. I t can be demonstrated, then, that when there is no pressure differ­ ence between the M E and the pharynx, f lu id is expulsed from a closed tympanum in the same manner as that ob­ served in an open tympanum. However, the closed tym­ panum wi th poor ventilation soon creates negative pres­ sure, which inhibits the clearance function of the tube.