Ceruminous glands are modified apocrine sweat glands in the skin of the outer, cartilaginous part of the ear canal. Their secretions mix with sebum and shed skin to form cerumen (earwax). Wax may be wet or dry, a trait largely set by a single gene variant.
| Location | Skin of the cartilaginous outer third of the external acoustic meatus |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Auriculotemporal nerve; Auricular branch of the vagus |
| Blood Supply | Deep auricular artery; Posterior auricular artery |
Produce earwax that waterproofs and protects the ear canal skin, traps dust and has mild antimicrobial action.
Wax is normally carried outward by the canal skin, so it does not usually need removal. Impacted wax is a common, easily treated cause of conductive hearing loss, often made worse by cotton buds or hearing aids. Removal methods include softening drops, irrigation and microsuction.
Wax packed in the canal causing muffled hearing, fullness, tinnitus or dizziness. It is treated with drops, irrigation or microsuction.
Rare benign or malignant tumours of the ceruminous glands that present as a mass in the outer ear canal.
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