Referred

Pain may be referred to the ear from the nerves listed below; for each, the disorder causing the stimulus is detailed.

Auriculo-temporal branch of the trigeminal nerve (V):

• dental abscess
• dental caries
• impacted molar teeth
• temporo-mandibular joint lesions - e.g. Costen's syndrome

Tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX):

• post-tonsillectomy
• tonsillitis or quinsy
• carcinoma at the base of the tongue or tonsil
• neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve

Sensory branch of the facial nerve (VII):

• geniculate herpes / Ramsay Hunt syndrome

Auricular branch of the vagus nerve (X):

• carcinoma of the piriform fossa
• carcinoma of the larynx
• post-cricoid carcinoma

Great auricular nerve (C2 / C3)

Lesser occipital nerve (C3):

• cervical spondylosis