Shedding light on the tympanic membrane: a brief history of the description and understanding of its anatomy.
J Laryngol Otol
; 136(2): 97-102, 2022 Feb.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34819180
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
For centuries, the tympanum has remained the only visible structure of the organ of hearing. This study aimed to trace the understanding of the tympanic membrane from antiquity to the early twentieth century.METHODS:
A review was conducted of primary and secondary historical and scientific literature describing the tympanic membrane anatomy.RESULTS:
Although ancient polymaths sensed that sounds were vibrations that could spread in the air and be perceived by the hearing organ, there were numerous misconceptions about the tympanum until human dissections performed during the Renaissance. The tympanum was correctly described only centuries later when technological advances enabled otologists to understand it as a fundamental part of the hearing organ.CONCLUSION:
The tympanic membrane history reflects key stages in medical knowledge; limited for centuries, a great technological leap was possible in the nineteenth century, contributing to the emergence of otologists and laying the foundations of modern otology.Mots clés
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Oto-rhino-laryngologie
/
Membrane du tympan
Limites:
Humans
Langue:
En
Journal:
J Laryngol Otol
Sujet du journal:
OTORRINOLARINGOLOGIA
Année:
2022
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
France