DEVELOPMENT

OF THE EAR

Course Title: Systemic Embryology

Course Lecturer: Dr Sabiu Bala SOJA
UNIT: Epigenetics and Neurodevelopmental Anatomy
Date :28th January, 2025
 OUTLINE 2
• Introduction
• Internal ear
• Middle ear
• External ear
• Clinical relevance
Introduction 3
DEVELOPMENT OF THE
INTERNAL EAR
• The inner ear is a complex structure that
comprises sensory organs that detect angular and
linear accelerations (vestibular system) and sound
(auditory system)
 INTERNAL EAR 5
• Develops from a thickening of the surface
ectoderm called the otic placode @ 4 weeks

• The otic placode invaginates into the underlying

mesoderm adjacent to the rhombencephalon

• which transforms into the otic vesicle

• The otic vesicle divides into utricular and saccular

portions.
INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 6
INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 7
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 8
Utricular portion of the otic vesicle - Derivatives:
• Utricle
• contains the sensory hair cells and otoliths of
the macula utriculi
• It responds to linear acceleration and the
force of gravity.

• Semicircular ducts
• contain the sensory hair cells of the cristae
ampullares.
• respond to angular acceleration.
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 9
Utricular portion of the otic vesicle- Derivatives:
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 10
Utricular portion of the otic vesicle - Derivatives:
• Vestibular ganglion of cranial nerve (CN) VIII
• lies at the base of the internal auditory meatus

• Endolymphatic duct and sac

• A membranous duct that connects the saccule
to the utricle ,
• terminates in a blind sac beneath the dura.
• The endolymphatic sac absorbs endolymph.
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 11
Utricular portion of the otic vesicle - Derivatives:
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 12
Saccular portion of the otic vesicle- Derivatives:
• Saccule
• contains the sensory hair cells and otoliths of the
macula sacculi.
• responds to linear acceleration and the force of
gravity.
• Cochlear duct (organ of Corti)
• involved in hearing and has pitch localization
• whereby high-frequency sound waves (20,000 Hz)
are detected at the base
• low-frequency sound waves (20 Hz) are detected
at the apex.
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 13
Saccular portion of the otic vesicle - Derivatives:
• Spiral ganglion of CN VIII lies in the modiolus of the
bony labyrinth.
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 14
Saccular portion of the otic vesicle - Derivatives:
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 15

An illustration of the cochlea and its tonotopic development across the frequency spectrum.
High-frequency sounds maximally stimulate the base of the cochlea, whereas low-frequency
sounds maximally stimulate the apex. Whereas the fetus is primarily exposed to sound
frequencies below 500 Hz (green shade), preterm newborns are exposed to the entire
frequency spectrum (green, orange, and red shades), coming from various electronic sounds in
the NICU environment.
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 16
Membranous and bony labyrinths

• The membranous labyrinth(ML) consists of all the

structures derived from the otic vesicle

• It is initially surrounded by neural crest cells that

form a connective tissue covering.

• which becomes cartilaginous and then ossifies to

become the bony labyrinth of the temporal bone.
 INTERNAL EAR (CONT’D) 17
Membranous and bony labyrinths:

• However, connective tissue nearest to the ML

degenerates,

• forming the perilymphatic space containing

perilymph.

• Making the membranous labyrinth floats in

perilymph within the bony labyrinth.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE
MIDDLE EAR
THE MIDDLE EAR 19
 MIDDLE EAR (CONT,D) 20
Ossicles of the middle ear- malleus

• The malleus develops from Meckel's cartilage in

pharyngeal arch 1.

• It's attached to the eardrum and controlled by

the tensor tympani muscle, also from arch 1,

• which is innervated by CN V3
MIDDLE EAR (CONT,D) 21
 MIDDLE EAR (CONT’D) 22
Ossicles of the middle ear- incus
• The incus bone develops from Meckel's cartilage,
which originates from neural crest cells in
pharyngeal arch 1.

• It articulates with the malleus and stapes bones.

 MIDDLE EAR (CONT’D) 23
Ossicles of the middle ear- stapes
• The stapes bone develops from Reichert's cartilage,
derived from neural crest cells in pharyngeal arch 2.

• The stapes is attached to the oval window of the

vestibule and is moved by the stapedius muscle,

• which originates from mesoderm in the same arch.

• The stapedius muscle is innervated by the facial

nerve (CN VII).
MIDDLE EAR (CONT’D) 24
 MIDDLE EAR (CONT’D) 25
The tympanic membrane
• Forms from a combination of ectoderm, mesoderm,
neural crest cells, and endoderm from the first
pharyngeal membrane.

• It seperates the middle ear and the external

auditory canal.

• The tympanic membrane receives sensory

innervation from the mandibular division of the
trigeminal nerve (CN V3) and (CN IX).
DEVELOPMENT OF THE
EXTERNAL EAR
THE EXTERNAL EAR 27
 THE EXTERNAL EAR 28
Auricle (or pinna)
• Develops from six
auricular hillocks that
surround pharyngeal
groove 1.

• The auricle is innervated

by CN V3, CN VII, CN IX,
and CN X and cervical
nerves C2 and C3.
THE EXTERNAL EAR 29
 CONGENITAL
MALFORMATIONS OF
THE EAR
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 31
Minor auricular malformations)
• Are commonly seen in:
• Down syndrome (trisomy 21),
• Patau syndrome (trisomy 13),
• Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18)
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 32
Minor auricular malformations)
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 33
Low-set slanted auricles
• Are auricles that are
located below a line
extended from the
corner of the eye to the
occiput.

• It may indicate
chromosomal
abnormalities

• such stickler syndrome

 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 34
Auricular appendages
• Are skin tags that
• are commonly found
anterior to the auricle
(i.e., pre-tragal area)

• The embryological basis

is the formation of
accessory auricle hillocks.
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 35
Atresia of the external auditory meatus
• A complete atresia consists of a bony plate
• in the location of the tympanic membrane

• A partial atresia consists of a soft tissue plug in the

location of the tympanic membrane.
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 36
Atresia of the external
auditory meatus
• It result in conduction
deafness
• usually associated with a
first arch syndrome.

• The embryological basis

is the failure of the
meatal plug to canalize.
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 37
Congenital cholesteatoma
OR (epidermoid cyst)
• Is a benign tumor found
in the middle ear cavity

• Results in conduction
deafness.

• The embryological basis

is the proliferation of
endodermal cells lining
the middle ear cavity.
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 38
Congenital cholesteatoma
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 39
Microtia
• Is a severely disorganized
auricle that is associated
with other malformations
resulting in deafness.

• The embryological basis is

impaired proliferation or
fusion of the auricular
hillocks.
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 40
Congenital deafness
• The organ of Corti may be
damaged by exposure to
rubella virus,

• especially during weeks 7

and 8 of development.
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 41
Congenital deafness
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 42
Preauricular sinus
• Is a narrow tube or shallow
pit that has a pinpoint
external opening

• The embryological basis is

uncertain but probably
involves pharyngeal groove
CLINICAL RELEVANCE 43
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 44
Stahl ear deformityinus
• Is congenital ear deformity
caused by an extra crease
or fold in the cartilage of
the upper, outer part of the
ear

• that gives the ear a very

pointed and prominent
appearance
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 45
Stahl ear deformityinus

• The third crus (extra

fold in the ear) extends
to the edge (helical
rim) causing the ear to
look pointed.

A: Before otoplasty, B and C after Otoplasty

 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 46
Stahl ear deformityinus
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE 47
Preauricular sinus
CLINICAL RELEVANCE 48
 CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Others 49
Shapes of external ear: (a) oval, (b) triangular, (c)
rectangular, (d) round.

Shapes of external ear: (a) oval, (b) triangular, (c) rectangular, (d) round.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Others 50
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