Evaluation of Eustachian tube function by contrast roentgenography.

Contrast roentgenography and cineroentgenography were carried out on nine patients with perforated eardrums to reveal the opening process of the Eustachian tube and its pumping-like clearance function in human beings. The results were as follows: (1) the tubal lumen opens along the cartilaginous part of the tube owing to the outward displacement of its lateral wall; (2) the pumping function of the tube consists in two phases: accumulation of the fluid in the tube by tensor contraction and discharge of the fluid by tensor relaxation.