What is a ruptured eardrum?
A ruptured eardrum is an eardrum that has a tear or hole in it. The eardrum is a thin, transparent layer of cells inside the ear canal. It separates the outer ear from the delicate structures of the middle and inner ear. Besides protecting the inner and middle ear from cold, wind, earwax, and anything else that might find its way into your ear, the eardrum helps you hear. It receives vibrating sound waves and transmits them to the tiny bones in your ear. A tear or hole in the eardrum exposes the middle ear and inner ear organs to potential damage or injury. The hole also usually causes some hearing loss.
