MadSci Network: Anatomy |
Can I make my eardrums flutter? The eardrum (tympanic membrane) is a very thin material that is tightly stretched across the ear canal. It needs to be tight to that it will vibrate when it encounters sound waves. If, by flutter, you mean the tight vibrations of the eardrum, then this is how we hear all the time. If, by flutter, you mean how a flag waves in the wind then we have a problem. If the eardrum were that loose it would no longer serve its purpose as a hearing organ. It is only possible for your eardrum to flutter in this fashion if you are deaf in that ear. So, if your eardrum were to “flutter” you would not be able to hear it. You ear does pick up sounds that are produced by your body. Many of these sounds come through bone conduction. So, it is possible that something is fluttering somewhere else and the sound is being conducted to your ear. My best guess for this flutter would be the tissues associated with the soft palate. Depending on how these tissues flutter can be a cause of snoring. Another possibility may be a glob of mucus lodged in the back of your throat or nose. This could also cause a fluttering noise when you breathe. Another guess, you might be hearing your heartbeat and interpreting the noise as a flutter.
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