Which structure connects the middle ear to the throat?

• A. Eustachian tube
• B. Malleus
• C. Incus
• D. Stapes

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that this structure both connects the middle ear to the throat and helps equalize pressure. The Eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat behind the nose. Its primary job is to equalize air pressure on both sides of the eardrum and to drain fluids from the middle ear into the throat. It normally stays closed and only opens briefly when you swallow, chew, or yawn, which is why you might feel a pop in your ears during altitude changes or after a flight. The other options are the small bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear; they do not connect to the throat. Therefore, the structure that connects the middle ear to the throat is the Eustachian tube.