Jean Cotterman's interesting post made a brief comment about the Eustacian
tubes.  There is a subtle relationship between the aeration of the Eustacian
tubes and the muscles which criss-cross the palate.  If these muscles are
severed (as in a cleft of the palate) they don't properly connect with and
help operate the Levator Veli Palatini.  Those are the little trap-door
muscles that click in your ears when you swallow.  The "pop" you hear is an
opening or closing, I forget which, but a puff of air goes up into the
Eustacian tubes and keeps things aired out.  It gets gummy in there without
this, and this is partly why babies with clefts get chronic otitis media --
unless, of course, they are exclusively fed human milk.


Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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