[Effects of an increase or decrease in the middle ear pressure on tympanic membrane vibrations (experimental study by holographic interferometry)].

The effects of positive and negative pressure in the middle ear on tympanic membrane (TM) vibrations were studied in twenty canine temporal bones by holographic interferometry. The displacement of the TM was measured by moiré topography. 1) When pressure was applied to the tympanic cavity, the curvature of the TM became small under negative pressure and large under positive pressure, with the displacement being greater under positive pressure. 2) Without pressure load, the vibration pattern below 2 kHz was simple and there were peak displacement regions in the posterior and anterior parts of the membrane and the peaks occurred approximately halfway along the manubrium. The TM vibrations showed sectional patterns, above 3 kHz in the posterior and above 4 kHz in the anterior. The amplitude of the anterior peak was larger than that of the mallear tip, but smaller than that of the posterior. 3) At frequencies below 2 kHz, the vibration pattern was not affected by negative pressure load. At frequencies of 3 kHz or higher, the sectional patterns changed into the simpler patterns and the sectional vibrations diminished as the pressure increased. 4) Below 2 kHz, the TM amplitude decreased with increasing negative pressure. Above 3 kH, the amplitude showed an initial increase but decreased at higher negative pressure loading. With the amplitude of the mallear tip, the same tendency was observed. The resonance frequency shifted to a higher frequency range with pressure loading. 5) Under positive pressure, the vibration pattern remained unchanged below 2 kHz, and above 3 kH, sectional vibrations changed to the simple vibrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)