Final answer:
A middle ear infection affects the Eustachian tube, tympanic membrane, and mastoid process but not the cochlea or bony labyrinth which are part of the inner ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient diagnosed with a middle ear infection is likely to experience problems in certain structures that are part of or related to the middle ear. The middle ear is an air-filled space that contains the ossicles: three tiny bones known as the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). It is connected to the pharynx by the Eustachian tube, which helps to maintain pressure equilibrium across the tympanic membrane, commonly known as the eardrum. Given this information, the structures affected by a middle ear infection are:
- C. Eustachian tube - This is because the middle ear is connected to the pharynx through the Eustachian tube, which can become inflamed and lead to an infection spreading.
- E. Tympanic membrane - The eardrum can become inflamed and even rupture in severe cases of middle ear infection.
- D. Mastoid process - Directly linked to the middle ear, infections can spread to this area causing what is known as mastoiditis.
The cochlea and the bony labyrinth (which includes the cochlea), on the other hand, are parts of the inner ear and therefore are not directly affected by a middle ear infection.