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Ear canal cleaning. Cotton bud with ear wax (cerumen) on its tip.(centre, brown). Ear wax is secreted by the ceruminous glands, it helps to prevent micro-organisms from entering the ear. A build-up of wax, caused by poor personal hygiene or infection, can impair hearing. The use of cotton buds to clean the ear canal (auditory meatus) is discouraged by doctors. They may impact ear wax or even perforate the ear drum (tympanum). (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/CHRIS KNAPTON)