SENSORY

ORGANS - EARS
JUNHEL DALANON, DMD, MAT, EdD
EAR
Ear is the organ of hearing (peripheral apparatus
of hearing). It also houses receptors that help to
maintain the balance of the body. It is located in
the temporal bone and consists of three parts:
1. External ear
2. Middle ear
3. Internal ear
EXTERNAL EAR

It is the lateral or external part of ear

and consists of two parts namely:
1. Pinna
2. External auditory meatus
PINNA OR AURICLE
It is a shell like projection present one on each
side of the head.
It consists of a single crumpled plate of elastic
cartilage with fibrous tissue closely lined by skin.
The lowest part is however, soft and consists
of fibrofatty tissue only. This is called lobule of
the ear.
PINNA OR AURICLE

The skin of pinna is adherent to the

underlying cartilage. Sebaceous glands
are present in the region of concha.
Coarse hairs may be present in some
elderly males along the tragus,
antitragus and intertragic notch. (It is a
Y-linked genetic expression).
PINNA OR AURICLE

Anatomical Features
Pinna presents an external or lateral
surface and a cranial or medial surface.
Lateral or external surface: A number of
elevations and depressions are seen on
this surface.
PINNA OR AURICLE
Anatomical Features - Lateral
1. Concha
2. Helix
3. Antihelix
4. Scaphoid Fossa
5. Cymba Concha
6. Tragus
7. Antitragus
8. Lobule
PINNA OR AURICLE

Anatomical Features - Medial

1. Eminentia Conchae
2. Eminentia Triangularis
MUSCLES OF THE PINNA

They serve minimal or no significant

function in human beings. All are
supplied by branches of facial nerve.
1. Extrinsic Muscles
2. Intrinsic Muscles
Extrinsic Muscles of the Pinna

1. Auricularis Anterior
2. Auricularis Posterior
3. Auricularis Superior
Intrinsic Muscles of the Pinna

1. Helicis major
2. Helicis minor
3. Tragicus
4. Antitragicus
Ligaments of the Pinna

1. Extrinsic Connects the auricle to

the temporal bone
2. Intrinsic connect the various parts
of the cartilage of the auricle with
themselves
External Auditory Meatus
It is a 24 mm long canal which extends from the
bottom of the concha to the tympanic membrane. It
consists of two parts:
1. Cartilaginous part: It forms lateral 1/3rd of the
meatus. Its cartilage is continuous with that of
the auricle. The postero-superior part usually has
only fibrous tissue and no cartilage.
2. Bony part: Medial 2/3rd of the meatus is bony.
Bony Part of the External Auditory
Meatus
a. Tympanic plate of temporal bone: It
forms the anterior wall, floor and part of
posterior
wall of the meatus.
b. Squamous part of temporal bone: It
forms the postero-superior wall of the
meatus.
Direction of the Meatus

The external auditory meatus has a

peculiar S-shaped course. From lateral
to medial side it curves as follows :
i. Medially, upwards and forwards.
ii. Medially, upwards and backwards.
iii. Medially, forward and downwards.
Clinical Significance

The meatus is lined by skin which is

adherent to the perichondrium and
periosteum of the meatus.

Hence, an infection of meatus is very

painful.
Clinical Significance

The subcutaneous tissue of cartilaginous

part has ceruminous glands which are
thought to be modified sweat glands.
These produce ear wax or cerumen. The
wax prevents maceration of the lining
epithelium by water and also aids in
opposing entry of insects into the ear.
Functions of External Ear
It receives the sound waves and
transmits them inside.
The wax produced by ceruminous
glands keeps the epithelium of external
ear moist preventing dryness and also
prevents maceration of epithelium due to
water.
Tympanic Membrane (Ear Drum)

It is a thin, semi-transparent membrane

which separates the external auditory
meatus from the middle ear. It is oval in
outline, a little less than inch (12
mm) in its greatest or vertical diameter.
Tympanic Membrane (Ear Drum)
The ear drum has two surfaces:
1. Lateral surface: It is concave and
directed downwards, forwards and laterally.
2. Medial surface: It is convex and is
attached to the handle of malleus. The
point of attachment is maximally convex
and is called the umbo.
Tympanic Membrane (Ear Drum)
Structure: The tympanic membrane is composed of
following three layers:
a. Outer cutaneous layer: This is continuous with the
skin of the external auditory meatus.
b. Middle fibrous layer: In the pars flaccida however, the
middle layer consists of loose connective tissue instead
of fibrous tissue.
c. Inner mucous layer: It is continuous with the mucus
lining of middle ear.
MIDDLE EAR (TYMPANIC CAVITY)
Communications of Middle Ear
1. Anteriorly, it communicates with
nasopharynx, through pharyngotympanic tube.
2. Posteriorly, it communicates with mastoid
(tympanic) antrum and mastoid air cells
through
aditus to antrum.
Muscles of Middle Ear

Tensor Tympani
Origin: Cartilaginous part of auditory
tube and adjoining part of greater wing
of sphenoid.
Insertion: Root of handle of malleus
Nerve supply: Mandibular nerve
Muscles of Middle Ear
Stapedius
Origin: Pyramidal eminence in posterior wall of tympanic
cavity.
Insertion: Posterior surface of neck of stapes.
Nerve supply: Facial nerve.
Action of muscles: The tensor tympani makes the tympanic
membrane taut while the stapedius draws the stapes laterally.
This exerts a dampening effect on sound vibrations. This helps
to prevent damage to the internal ear in the presence of loud
noise.
Internal Ear
It is the inner most part of the ear and is located
within the petrous part of the temporal bone.
Structure: It consists of a complex series of fluid
filled spaces called the membranous labyrinth. This
membranous labyrinth is lodged within similarly
arranged bony cavities forming the bony
labyrinth. The membranous labyrinth is filled with
endolymph and bony labyrinth with perilymph.
Bony Labyrinth

The bony labyrinth consists of a complex

series of bony canals in the petrous part
of temporal bone. It is made up of three
parts namely vestibule, cochlea and
semicircular canals which communicate
with each other.
Bony Labyrinth
Vestibule
The vestibule is the middle part of the
bony labyrinth and is located immediately
medial to the tympanic cavity.
It lodges the utricle and saccule of the
membranous labyrinth.
Bony Labyrinth
Cochlea
The cochlea is a helical tube of about 2 to 2
turns. It is named cochlea due to its
resemblance to the shell of a snail.
It forms the anterior part of the bony labyrinth.
Its basal coil forms the promontory of the middle
ear and opens into the vestibuli posteriorly.
Membranous Labyrinth
The membranous labyrinth, consists of closed
membranous sacs and ducts intercommunicating
with each other. It lies within the bony labyrinth.
The membranous labyrinth consists of 3 parts:
1. Cochlear duct, within the bony cochlea.
2. Saccule and utricle, within the vestibule.
3. Three semicircular ducts, within the respective
semicircular canals.
Membranous Labyrinth
Cochlear Duct (Scala Media)
It is a spiral-shaped duct consisting of 2
and 3/4 turns. It lies in the bony cochlear
canal between the scala vestibuli and
scala tympani.
The cochlear duct contains the spiral
organ of Corti
Membranous Labyrinth

Spiral Organ of Corti

It is the peripheral organ of hearing
present in the cochlear duct. It rests on
the basilar membrane.
Membranous Labyrinth
Semicircular Ducts
Three semicircular ducts are present within the
corresponding bony semicircular canals along
their outer walls.
The semicircular ducts are responsible for
sensing the rotatory movements of the head and
help to maintain the kinetic balance of the body.