VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN

(ORGAN OF HEARING
AND BALANCE)
The vestibular cochlear organ -
organum vestibulocochleare in the
process of evolution in animals
emerged as a complex organ of
balance (vestibular) - organum
status, which perceives the position
of the body (head) when it moves
in space, and the organ of hearing -
organum auditus.
The vestibulocochlear organ is
divided into three parts, closely
related anatomically and
functionally: the external, middle
and inner ear. The external ear -
auris externa, includes the auricle
and external acoustic meatus, to
the middle ear, auris media, - the
tympanic cavity with the auditory
ossicles, with mastoid cells and the
auditory (Eustachian) tube.
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING
AND BALANCE)
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING
AND BALANCE)
The inner ear, the auris interna,
is the most complex, in which
there are bony and membranous
labyrinths, which form the
organ of hearing itself and the
organ of balance (the vestibular
organ), located only in the inner
ear. The external, middle ear
and part of the inner (cochlea)
belong to the organ of hearing.
The organ of balance
(vestibular) is located only in
the inner ear.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)

The vestibulocochlear organ

(except for the auricle) is
located in the petrous part of the
temporal bone.
From a functional point of
view, the external ear picks up
sound waves and transmits it to
the middle ear. Sound vibrations
are transmitted through the
ossicular chain to the inner ear.
The inner ear contains receptors
that transmit information about
these vibrations to the brain.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The external ear - auris externa,
includes the auricle and the external
acoustic meatus, which form a kind of
funnel for capturing sounds and
directing the sound wave to the
tympanic membrane.
Auricle - auricula, basically has a
complex shape of elastic cartilage -
cartilago auriculae, covered with skin
tightly adjacent to the cartilage. There
is no cartilage at the bottom of the
auricle. Instead, there is a skin fold
with fatty tissue inside - a lobule of the
auricle (lobe), lobulus auriculae. The
upper, posterior edge of the auricle is
wrapped and forms helix - helix, which
in the front of the auricle above the
external acoustic meatus ends in the
form crus of helix - crus helicis.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
Downward, the helix continues into
a tail of helix - cauda helicis. On
the inner side of the helix, in the
back-upper part of it, there is
tubercle which is not always
clearly pronounced - the tubercle
of the auricle (Darwin's tubercle) -
tuberculum auriculare. Parallel to
the helix on the inner side of the
auricle, there is an elevation -
antihelix, antihelix. Between the
helix and the antihelix there is a
groove - scapha. At the top, the
antihelix is ​divided into two crura
of antihelix - crura antihelicis,
between which there is a triangular
fossa - fossa triangularis.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
In front of the external acoustic
meatus there is a protrusion - a
tragus, tragus. Opposite it, in
the lower part of the antihelix,
the antitragus is visible.
Between the tragus in front and
the lower part of the antihelix in
the back there is a depression -
the cavity of the concha, cavitas
conchae, which continues into
the external acoustic meatus.
The size and shape of the
auricle are individual. By the
anterior, posterior and superior
ligaments of the auricle -
ligamenta auricularia anterius,
posterius et superius, it attaches
to the temporal bone.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING
AND BALANCE)
The external acoustic meatus - meatus
acusticus externus, open from the
outside, ends blindly in the depths,
separated from the middle ear's cavity
by the tympanic membrane. The
length of the external acoustic meatus
in an adult is on average 30 mm, the
diameter reaches 9 mm at the
beginning and 6 mm at the narrowest
point, where the cartilaginous external
acoustic meatus passes into the bony
one. The cartilaginous external
acoustic meatus, which is a
continuation of the auricle, has the
form of a groove open upward, and is
1/3 of the length of the entire external
acoustic meatus. Two thirds of the
external acoustic meatus has bony
walls belonging to the temporal bone.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The external acoustic meatus
curved "S"-like, mainly in the
horizontal plane. To straighten it
when examining the tympanic
membrane, the auricle should be
pulled backward and upward. The
length of the bony part of the
external acoustic meatus is 20-22
mm and it is located inside the
temporal bone. The external
acoustic meatus is lined with skin,
which becomes thinner and
continues to the tympanic
membrane. In the skin covering the
cartilaginous part of the acoustic
meatus, there are ear hairs - tragi,
many sebaceous and a special kind
of ceruminous (sulfur) glands -
glandulae ceruminosae, which
produce earwax.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The tympanic membrane -
membrana tympani, a thin
translucent oval plate 11x9 mm
in size, separates the external
acoustic meatus from the
tympanic cavity (middle ear).
The tympanic membrane is
fixed at the end of the acoustic
meatus, in the groove of the
tympanic part of the temporal
bone. The large lower part of
the membrane is a pars tensa -
pars tensa, and the upper one,
about 2 mm wide, adjacent to
the squamous part of the
temporal bone, is called the pars
flaccida - pars flaccida.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
In relation to the axis of the
external acoustic meatus, the
tympanic membrane is located
obliquely and forms an angle equal
to 45-55 ° with lower wall of
meatus. The angle is opened to the
outside. In the center of the
membrane there is an umbo of
tympanic membrane, umbo
membranae tympanicae, which is
corresponded to the attachment of
the end of the handle of malleus
from inside of it. Outside, the
tympanic membrane is covered
with epidermis, which forms the
skin layer - stratum cutaneum, and
from the side of the tympanic
cavity - by the mucous membrane
- the mucous layer - stratum
mucosum.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
Between them passes their
proper plate - lamina propria,
consisting of fibrous tissue,
the fibers of which in the
peripheral areas are mainly
oriented radially - stratum
radiatum, and in the center -
circularly, stratum circulare.
In the pars flaccida of the
tympanic membrane, the
fibrous layer is absent, and
the skin layer is directly
adjacent to the mucous
membrane.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The middle ear - auris media,
includes a tympanic cavity lined
with a mucous membrane and filled
with air (with a volume of about 1
cm3) and an auditory (Eustachian)
tube. The middle ear cavity
communicates with the mastoid cave
and through it with the mastoid cells
located in the thickness of the
mastoid process.
The tympanic cavity - cavitas
tympanica, s.cavum tympani, is
located in the thickness of the
temporal bone pyramid, between the
external acoustic meatus laterally
and the bony labyrinth of the inner
ear medially. Its shape is compared
to a tambourine, placed on the edge
and inclined outward. In the
tympanic cavity, 6 walls are
distinguished:
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
1. The upper tegmental wall -
paries tegmentalis, formed
by a thin plate of bone
substance (roof of the
tympanic cavity, tegmen
tympani), separating the
tympanic cavity from the
cranial cavity;
2. The lower jugular wall -
paries jugularis,
corresponds to the lower
wall of the pyramid in the
place where the jugular
fossa is located;
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
3. The medial labyrinth wall - paries
labyrinthicus, is complex, it separates the
tympanic cavity from the bony labyrinth of
the inner ear. On this wall there is a
promontorium protruding towards the
tympanic cavity. Above the promontorium
and somewhat posteriorly, there is an oval
window of the vestibule - fenestra vestibuli,
leading to the vestibule of the bone
labyrinth; it is closed by the base of the
stirrup (basis stapedis). Slightly above the
oval window and behind it is the transverse
protrusion of the wall of the facial nerve
canal - the protrusion of the facial canal,
prominentia canalis facialis. Behind and
below the promontorium there is a round
window - fenestra cochleae, closed by a
secondary tympanic membrane - membrana
tympanis secundaria. This membrane
separates the tympanic cavity from the
scala tympani;
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
4. The posterior mastoid wall - paries
mastoideus, in the lower part has a
pyramidal elevation - eminentia
pyramidalis, inside of which the
stapedius muscle begins. In the
upper part of the posterior wall, the
tympanic cavity continues into the
mastoid antrum - antrum
mastoideum, into which the
mastoid cells of the process of the
same name also open;
5. The anterior carotid wall - paries
caroticus, the lower part of it,
separates the tympanic cavity from
the carotid canal, in which the
internal carotid artery passes. In
the upper part of the wall there is
an opening of the auditory tube,
which connects the tympanic
cavity with the nasopharynx;
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
6. Lateral membranous wall - paries
membranaceus, formed by the
tympanic membrane and the
surrounding parts of the temporal
bone.
In the tympanic cavity there are three
auditory ossicles covered with a
mucous membrane, as well as
ligaments and muscles.
Auditory ossicles - ossicula auditus,
s.auditoria, miniature bones with
the largest size 8-9 mm.
Connecting with each other, they
form a chain that continues from
the tympanic membrane to the oval
window of the vestibule, which
opens into the inner ear. In
accordance with their shape, the
bones received the following
names: malleus, incus, stapes.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The malleus - malleus, has
a rounded head - caput
mallei, which passes into
the neck of the malleus -
collum mallei, then the
long handle of the malleus
- manubrium mallei, with
two processes: long
anterior and short lateral -
processus anterior et
lateralis.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
Incus - incus, consists of a
body - corpus incudis, a
glenoid fossa for
articulation with the head
of malleus and two limbs: a
short limb - crus breve, and
a long limb - crus longum,
with a thickening at the
end. This thickening is
called lenticular process -
processus lenticularis. It
serves to connect with the
head of stapes.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
Stapes - stapes, has a
head - caput stapedis,
anterior and posterior limbs
- crus anterius et posterius,
connected by means of the
base of stapes (footplate) -
basis stapedis inserted into
the oval window of
vestibule.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING
AND BALANCE)
The malleus with its handle is
spliced ​ with the tympanic
membrane throughout its entire
length so that the end of the handle
corresponds to the umbo of
tympanic membrane at the outer
side of tympanic membrane. The
head of the malleus by means of a
joint is connected to the body of
the incus and forms the
incudomallear joint - articulatio
incudomallearis. The incus, in
turn, by a lenticular process
connects to the head of the stapes,
forming the incudostapedial joint -
articulatio incudostapedialis. The
joints are reinforced with miniature
ligaments.
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING
AND BALANCE)
With the help of a chain movable in the
joints, consisting of three auditory
ossicles, the vibrations of the tympanic
membrane resulting from the action of
a sound wave on it are transmitted to
the window of the vestibule, in which
the base of the stapes is movably fixed
with the help of the anular ligament of
the stapes - lig.anulare stapediale. The
auditory bones are fixed with thin
ligaments:
1. Anterior ligament of malleus - lig.
mallei anterius
2.Superior ligament of malleus - lig.
mallei superius
3.Lateral ligament of malleus - lig. mallei
laterale
4. Superior ligament of the incus - lig.
incudis superius
5. Posterior incus ligament - lig. incudis
posterius
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The middle ear has two muscles. They
regulate the movement of the bones
and prevent them from excessive
vibrations at strong sound. The tensor
tympani muscle - m.tensor tympani,
lies in the semicanal of the same name
of canalis musculotubarius, and its thin
and long tendon is attached to the
initial part of handle of malleus. This
muscle, pulling the handle of malleus,
tenses the tympanic membrane. The
stapedius muscle - m.stapedius, begins
at the pyramidal eminence and is
attached with a thin tendon to the
posterior limb of stapes near its head.
With the contraction of the stapedius
muscle, the pressure of the base of
stapes, inserted into the window of the
vestibule (oval), is weakened.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The tympanic cavity is lined with a
mucous membrane from the inside.
The mucous membrane in the area
of ​the tympanic membrane and
ossicles is covered with a single-layer
squamous epithelium, in the rest - with
a columnar epithelium. The mucous
membrane at the back passes into the
cave of the mastoid process, and in
front - into the auditory tube. There are
numerous folds and depressions in the
mucous membrane of the tympanic
cavity. These include the anterior fold
of the malleus - plica malleolaris
anterior, the posterior fold of the
malleus - plica malleolaris posterior,
the fold of chorda tympani - plica
chorda tympani, the fold of incus -
plica incudialis, the fold of stapes -
plica stapedialis.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The mucous membrane of the
tympanic cavity, being thrown
from one formation to another,
forms a series of recesses.
These include the recess of the
tympanic membrane - recessus
membranae tympani, the
anterior recess - recessus
anterior, the posterior recess -
recessus posterior, the upper
recess - recessus superior.
The tympanic cavity in front via
the auditory tube communicates
with the pharynx, behind with
the aditus ad antrum
mastoideum, with the mastoid
cavity and cells of the process
of the same name.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The auditory (Eustachian) tube - tuba
auditiva, s.auditoria, on average 35 mm
long, 2 mm wide. Through it, air from
the pharynx enters the tympanic cavity
to maintain the same pressure in the
cavity as the external one, which is
important for the normal operation of
the sound-conducting apparatus
(tympanic membrane and auditory
ossicles). In the auditory tube, the bony
part is distinguished - pars ossea, and
the cartilaginous part - pars
cartilaginea, consisting of elastic
cartilage. The lumen of the tube at the
place of their junction - the isthmus of
the auditory tube, isthmus tubae
auditivae, narrows to 1 mm. The upper
bony part of the tube is located in the
semicanal of the same name of the
temporal bone and opens on the anterior
wall of the tympanic cavity with the
tympanic ostium of auditory tube -
ostium tympanicum tubae auditivae.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The lower cartilaginous part, which
accounts for 2/3 of the length of the
tube, has the form of a groove, open at
the bottom, formed by the medial and
lateral cartilaginous plates and the
membranous plate connecting them. In
the place where the auditory tube opens
on the side wall of the nasopharynx
with the pharyngeal opening of the
auditory tube - ostium pharyngeum
tubae auditivae, the medial (posterior)
plate of the elastic cartilage of the tube
thickens and protrudes into the
pharyngeal cavity in the form of a
tubular torus - torus tubarius. The
longitudinal axis of the auditory tube
from the pharyngeal opening is
directed upward and laterally, forming
an angle of 40-45 ° with the horizontal
and sagittal planes.
 VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR ORGAN
(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
On the cartilaginous part of the auditory
tube, the tensor tympani muscle and the
levator palatini muscle originate. When they
contract, the cartilage of the tube and its
membranous plate - lamina membranacea,
are pulled back, the channel of the tube
expands and air from the pharynx enters the
tympanic cavity. The mucous membrane of
the tube forms longitudinal folds and is
covered with ciliated epithelium, the
movements of the cilia of which are directed
towards the pharynx. In the mucous
membrane of the auditory tube, there are
many mucous tubal glands - glandulae
tubariae, and lymphoid tissue, which forms
an accumulation near the tubal ridge and
around the pharyngeal opening of the
auditory tube - the tubal tonsil.
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(ORGAN OF HEARING AND BALANCE)
The mastoid antrum-
antrum mastoideum, and its
cells - cellulae mastoidea,
are located inside the
mastoid process, from the
inside covered with a
mucous membrane. The
lumen is filled with air. The
size of the mastoid antrum
and the number of its cells
depend on their
development. These rates
increase in older people.