What inflammatory condition affects the layers of the eardrum?

Myringitis refers specifically to the inflammation of the tympanic membrane, commonly known as the eardrum. This condition typically results from infection, irritation, or other inflammatory processes. In cases of myringitis, the layers of the eardrum may become red, swollen, and painful, potentially affecting hearing ability and causing discomfort.

When evaluating the other options, monomers generally refers to a term related to chemistry and does not pertain to an inflammatory condition of the ear. Cerumen impaction involves the blockage of the ear canal by earwax, which does not directly target the eardrum itself and is more about blockage rather than inflammation. Swimmer's ear, or otitis externa, concerns the outer ear canal and does not affect the layers of the eardrum directly, which is the key distinction. Thus, myringitis is the correct choice as it explicitly involves the inflammation of the eardrum's structure.