ANATOMY OF THE EAR

Main Components of the

Hearing Mechanism:
Divided into 4 parts (by function):
Outer Ear

Middle Ear

Inner Ear

Central Auditory Nervous

System
 Structures of the Outer Ear

Auricle (Pinna)
Gathers
sound waves
Aids in
localization
Amplifies
sound
approx. 5-6
dB
External Auditory Canal:
Approx. 1 inch long
S shaped
Outer 1/3 surrounded
by cartilage; inner 2/3
by mastoid bone
Allows air to warm
before reaching TM
Isolates TM from
physical damage
Cerumen glands
moisten/soften skin
Presence of some
cerumen is normal
 Surfaces of the Middle Ear
Roof (tegmental wall) Formed by thin plate of bone called:
tegmen tymphani
Seperates middle ear cavity from
temporal lobe in the middle cranial
fossa
Floor Formed by thin plate bone called: jugular
wall
Seperates middle ear cavity from jugular
fossa containing superior bulb of Internal
Jugular Vein
Lateral wall Formed by ear drum
Anterior wall Arranged from above downwards:
1. The opening for the canal of tensor
tympani muscle
2. Opering for Eusthacian tube
3. A plate of bone seperating middle ear
Surfaces of the Middle Ear
Medial wall:
A well marked rounded buldge: Promontary
produced by first turn of the cochlea
Oval Window: above and behind the promontary
closed by the foot of the stapes & leads to the
vestibule of internal ear
Rounded Window: Lies below & behind the
promontary
The horizontal part of facial canal: arching above
the promontary & oval window
Surfaces of the Middle Ear
Posterior Wall:
The aditus opening leading to the
mastoid antrum
The pyramid a hollow conical process
containing the stapedius muscle
The verical part of the facial canal
medial to the aditus
MIDDLE EAR CLEFT
Middle ear cavity
Additus
Antrum
Mastoid air cells
Eustachian tube
Mastoid Process of Temporal
Bone
Bony ridge behind the
auricle
Hardest bone in body,
protects cochlea and
vestibular system
Provides support to the
external ear and
posterior wall of the
middle ear cavity
Contains air cavities
which can be reservoir
for infection
Tympanic Membrane

Thin membrane
Forms boundary
between outer and
middle ear
Vibrates in response
to sound waves
Changes acoustical
energy into
mechanical energy
 The Ossicles
Ossicular chain = malleus,
incus & stapes
Malleus
TM attaches at Umbo
Incus
Connector function
Stapes
Smallest bone in the body
Footplate inserts in oval
window on medial wall
Focus/amplify vibration of TM
to smaller area, enables
vibration of cochlear fluids
Eustachian Tube (AKA: The
Equalizer)
Mucous-lined, connects
middle ear cavity to
nasopharynx
Equalizes air pressure in
middle ear
Normally closed, opens
under certain conditions
May allow a pathway for
infection
Children grow out of most
middle ear problems as this
tube lengthens and becomes
more vertical
 Stapedius Muscle

Attaches to stapes
Contracts in response to loud sounds; (the
Acoustic Reflex)
Changes stapes mode of vibration; makes it
less efficient and reduce loudness
perceived
Built-in earplugs!
Absent acoustic reflex could signal
conductive loss or marked sensorineural
loss
Structures
of the Inner
Ear:
The Cochlea
Inner Ear
Consist of 2 part: bony labyrinth &
membranous labyrinth
Sensory organ hearing & balance
Cochlea hearing
Semicircular canals balance
Bony labyrinth

Rigid, bony outer

walls of inner ear
Cavities, lined by
periosteum
Contain clear fluid
perilymph
Membranous labyrinth
Collection of fluid filled tubes &
chambers
Contain receptors for hearing and
balance
Lodged within bony labyrinth
Separated from bony labyrinth by
perilymphatic fluid
Contains endolymph
Cochlea
Snail shaped
Cochlear structures:
1. 3 chambers scala vestibule, scala
tympani, scala media (cochlear duct)
2. Hellicotrema
3. Reissners membrane
4. Basilar membrane
5. Organ of corti core component
6. Hair cells
Central Auditory System
VIIIth Cranial Nerve or Auditory Nerve
Bundle of nerve fibers
Travels from cochlea through internal auditory
meatus to skull cavity and brain stem
Carry signals from cochlea to primary auditory
cortex, with continuous processing along the way
Auditory Cortex
Wernickes Area within Temporal Lobe of the brain
Sounds interpreted based on experience/association
 Acoustic energy -> Pinna -> EAM -> TM
-> HOM > HOI -> LPI -> LePI -> HS ->
FPS -> Oval windows -> Perilypmh (SV)
-> Movement of endolymph -> Basilar
membrane -> Hair cells >
Depolarization -> Repolarization ->
Cochlear nerve > Brain
Summary: How Sound
Travels Through The Ear
Acoustic energy, in the form of sound waves, is channeled
into the ear canal by the pinna. Sound waves hit the
tympanic membrane and cause it to vibrate, like a
drum, changing it into mechanical energy. The malleus,
which is attached to the tympanic membrane, starts the
ossicles into motion. The stapes moves in and out of the
oval window of the cochlea creating a fluid motion, or
hydraulic energy. The fluid movement causes
membranes in the Organ of Corti to shear against the
hair cells. This creates an electrical signal which is sent
up the Auditory Nerve to the brain. The brain interprets
it as sound!
THANK YOU