<Tr> <Th> Patient UK </Th> <Td> Earwax </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a gray, orange, or yellowish waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and other mammals . It protects the skin of the human ear canal, assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection against bacteria, fungi, insects, and water . </P> <P> Earwax consists of shed skin cells, hair, and the secretions of the ceruminous and sebaceous glands of the outside ear canal . Major components of earwax are long chain fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, alcohols, squalene, and cholesterol . Excess or compacted cerumen can press against the eardrum or block the outside ear canal or hearing aids, potentially causing hearing loss . </P>

The waxy substance secreted by glands in the ear is