Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 21, 2026

The Mouse Round-window Approach for Ototoxic Agent Delivery: A Rapid and Reliable Technique for Inducing Cochlear Cell Degeneration
12:21

The Mouse Round-window Approach for Ototoxic Agent Delivery: A Rapid and Reliable Technique for Inducing Cochlear Cell Degeneration

Published on: November 26, 2015

A unique presentation of a pharyngeal auricle

Eliav Gov-Ari1, Philip E Zapanta, David Malis

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|October 19, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Rare congenital head and neck lesions can occur. This case highlights a pharyngeal auricle presenting as an oropharyngeal polyp in an infant, a unique presentation for otolaryngologists.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Congenital lesions are typically diagnosed and treated in early childhood.
  • Head and neck embryology presents unique complexities, leading to rare congenital anomalies.
  • Otolaryngologists should be aware of unusual presentations of congenital head and neck lesions.

Observation:

  • A rare case of a pharyngeal auricle was identified.
  • The lesion presented as a polyp within the oropharynx.
  • The patient was an infant.

Findings:

  • The pharyngeal auricle is an exceptionally rare congenital anomaly.
  • Its presentation as an oropharyngeal polyp is highly unusual.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare diagnoses in pediatric head and neck presentations.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known clinical spectrum of pharyngeal auricles.
  • It emphasizes the need for thorough evaluation of infant oropharyngeal masses.
  • Early recognition and management are crucial for favorable outcomes in pediatric congenital anomalies.

More Related Videos

Levator Auris Longus Preparation for Examination of Mammalian Neuromuscular Transmission Under Voltage Clamp Conditions10:45

Levator Auris Longus Preparation for Examination of Mammalian Neuromuscular Transmission Under Voltage Clamp Conditions

Published on: May 5, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Ear01:16

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
The Auditory Ossicles01:11

The Auditory Ossicles

The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two malleus (hammer) bones, two incus (anvil) bones, and two stapes (stirrups), one on each side. These bones develop during the fetal stage and are the ones to ossify first. They are fully mature at birth and do not grow afterward.
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
Cranial Bones: Lateral View01:27

Cranial Bones: Lateral View

The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
Hair Cells01:22

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...