Your ear might be twitching due to involuntary muscle spasms in your middle ear, a condition known as muscular tinnitus.
Understanding Muscular Tinnitus
Muscular tinnitus occurs when the tiny muscles in your middle ear, specifically the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles, undergo involuntary spasms or twitching. These muscles are crucial for hearing because they control the movement of the small bones that transmit sound from the air to your inner ear.
Muscles Involved
- Stapedius Muscle: This muscle stabilizes the stapes, one of the ossicles (small bones) in the middle ear.
- Tensor Tympani Muscle: This muscle tenses the eardrum and helps dampen loud sounds.
What happens?
When these muscles twitch, you might experience a fluttering, clicking, or thumping sensation in your ear. These sounds are not external but are generated internally by the muscular activity. It is important to note that these spasms are not usually cause for medical concern but they can be bothersome.
Here is a summary table for clarity:
| Muscle | Function | When it twitches |
|---|---|---|
| Stapedius | Stabilizes stapes bone | Can cause internal clicking sound |
| Tensor Tympani | Tenses eardrum | May lead to fluttering sensation |
Reference:
Muscular tinnitus is associated with involuntary spasms or twitching of the tiny stapedius and tensor tympani muscles in your middle ear, which is the area between your eardrum and inner ear. These two muscles control the movement of the bones that carry sound from the air to your inner ear.19-Jan-2024
