system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Where does fluid that gets 'locked' into your ear go?

I've been using ear drops to clear wax in my ear and sometimes the drops disappear for more than a day before they come trickling out. Where have they gone? They can't get beyond the ear drum can they?
gpt
The ear canal is pretty narrow. Water adheres to the skin on the inside of the canal, and the small opening can allow that adhesion combined with it is own surface tension to create a scenario where gravity is insufficient to cause it to flow out of the canal on its own.

The action of jumping up and down with one's head turned to the side can remedy this situation sometimes by both momentarily increasing the weight of the water (as you land) and disrupting the surface tension as a result of the abrupt motions.

It can clear itself on its own for various reasons, from simple random chance to shifts in temperature (which alter the surface tension and changes in the ear canal over time for various reasons.