Pars flaccida of tympanic membrane

Pars flaccida of the Tympanic Membrane

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Illustration of the Pars flaccida of the tympanic membrane

The Pars flaccida of the tympanic membrane is a small, thin section located at the superior part of the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. It is also known as Shrapnell's membrane after Henry Jones Shrapnell, the English anatomist who first described it in detail.

Anatomy

The pars flaccida is located in the superior section of the tympanic membrane, above the lateral process of the malleus. It is a small, slack area that is less taut than the larger, more rigid pars tensa. The pars flaccida consists of two layers, compared to the three layers of the pars tensa. These layers are the outer cutaneous layer and the inner mucosal layer.

Clinical Significance

Due to its thin structure, the pars flaccida is often the site of cholesteatoma, a benign growth of skin cells in the middle ear that can lead to hearing loss. It is also more prone to retraction and perforation than the pars tensa.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of conditions affecting the pars flaccida typically involves an otoscopic examination. Treatment varies depending on the condition, but may include surgery, particularly in the case of cholesteatoma.

See Also

• Tympanic membrane
• Cholesteatoma
• Otoscopy