What Is Mastoiditis?
The mastoid process is a prominence of the temporal bone and is situated at the base of the skull behind and below the ear. It contains a honeycomb of thin-walled air cells within the structure of the bone and these connect with the middle ear cavity. The cells vary in size and number in different individuals and are lined with mucous membrane, which is continuous with the lining of the middle ear. The larger cells are filled with air and some of the smaller ones contain bone marrow. The structure is thought to increase resonance within the ear and to aid sound perception and amplification.
Mastoiditis is the condition that occurs due to infection of the membranes of the mastoid air cells with formation of pus within the cavities and inflammation of the surrounding tissue and bone.
