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Anatomy of Ear

The document summarizes the anatomy and function of the ear. It is divided into the outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer ear collects sound and directs it through the external auditory meatus into the middle ear, which contains the tympanic membrane, ossicles, and eustachian tube that amplify vibrations and transmit them to the inner ear for processing into neural signals in the brain. The inner ear contains the cochlea with the organ of Corti that converts vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain via the VIII cranial nerve.

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karuparthi sripravallika
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20 views27 pages

Anatomy of Ear

The document summarizes the anatomy and function of the ear. It is divided into the outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer ear collects sound and directs it through the external auditory meatus into the middle ear, which contains the tympanic membrane, ossicles, and eustachian tube that amplify vibrations and transmit them to the inner ear for processing into neural signals in the brain. The inner ear contains the cochlea with the organ of Corti that converts vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain via the VIII cranial nerve.

Uploaded by

karuparthi sripravallika
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Anatomy of the Ear

Major Divisions of the Ear

Peripheral Mechanism Central Mechanism

VIII
Outer Middle Inner
Cranial Brain
Ear Ear Ear
Nerve
Outer Ear

Pinna
Pinna
Preauricular Tags

External Preauricular Pits

Auditory EAM

Meatus Cerumen
Pinna
Function of Outer Ear

• Collect sound
• Localization
• Resonator
• Protection
• Sensitive
(earlobe)
Pinna

• The visible portion that is commonly referred to


as "the ear"
• Helps localize sound sources
• Directs sound into the ear
• Each individual's pinna creates a distinctive
imprint on the acoustic wave traveling into the
auditory canal
External Auditory Meatus

• Extends from the pinna to the tympanic membrane


– About 26 millimeters (mm) in length and 7 mm in diameter in
adult ear.
– Size and shape vary among individuals.
• Protects the eardrum
• Resonator
– Provides about 10 decibels (dB) of gain to the eardrum at around
3,300 Hertz (Hz).
• The net effect of the head, pinna, and ear canal is that
sounds in the 2,000 to 4,000 Hz region are amplified by 10
to 15 dB.
– Sensitivity to sounds greatest in this frequency region
– Noises in this range are the most hazardous to hearing
Cerumen

• The purpose of wax:


– Repel water
– Trap dust, sand particles, micro-
organisms, and other debris
– Moisturize epithelium in ear canal
– Odor discourages insects
– Antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal
properties
– Cleanse ear canal
Middle Ear
Virtual Tour of the Ear
Middle Ear Cavity

Tympanic Cavity Ossicles


Middle Ear Muscles
Tympanic Membrane
Mastoid
Ossicles Eustachian Tube
Middle Ear Muscles Function Amplifier
Eustachian Tube Cholesteatoma

Mastoid Temporal bone fractures


Otitis Media
PE tubes Otosclerosis
Function of Middle Ear

• Conduction
– Conduct sound from the outer ear to the inner ear
• Protection
– Creates a barrier that protects the middle and inner areas from
foreign objects
– Middle ear muscles may provide protection from loud sounds
• Transducer
– Converts acoustic energy to mechanical energy
– Converts mechanical energy to hydraulic energy
• Amplifier
– Transformer action of the middle ear
– only about 1/1000 of the acoustic energy in air would be
transmitted to the inner-ear fluids (about 30 dB hearing loss)
Transformer/Amplifier

• Transform the vibrating motion of the eardrum into motion of


the stapes.
• The middle ear enhances the transfer of acoustical energy in
two ways:
– The area of the eardrum is about 17 times larger than the oval window
• The effective pressure (force per unit area) is increased by this amount.
– The ossicles produce a lever action that further amplifies the pressure
• Without the transformer action of middle ear, about 1/1000 of
acoustic energy in air transmitted to inner-ear fluids (about 30
dB loss).
• Malleus and incus vibrate together, transmitting the sound
waves from the eardrum to the footplate of the stapes (this
pushes the oval window in and out)(mechanical energy)
Tympanic Membrane

• The eardrum separates the outer


ear from the middle ear
• Creates a barrier that protects the
middle and inner areas from
foreign objects
• Cone-shaped in appearance
– about 17.5 mm in diameter
• The eardrum vibrates in response
to sound pressure waves.
• The membrane movement is
incredibly small
– as little as one-billionth of a
centimeter
Eustachian Tube

• The eustachian tube connects the front wall of the


middle ear with the nasopharynx
• The eustachian tube also operates like a valve,
which opens during swallowing and yawning
– This equalizes the pressure on either side of the
eardrum, which is necessary for optimal hearing.
– Without this function, a difference between the static
pressure in the middle ear and the outside pressure may
develop, causing the eardrum to displace inward or
outward
• This reduces the efficiency of the middle ear and less acoustic
energy will be transmitted to the inner ear.
Ossicles

• Malleus
(hammer)
• Incus (anvil)
• Stapes
(stirrup)
smallest
bone of the
body
Mastoid
Otosclerosis
• Develops most frequently between ages
of 10 and 30.
• About 10–15% of patients have unilateral
loss.
• Affects women more frequently than men
by a ratio of 2:1.
• Pregnancy once thought to be a risk factor
for the development and / or worsening of
otosclerosis…recent studies have disputed
this.
• May progress to nerve deafness called
cochlear otosclerosis.
Inner Ear

Vestibular
semicircular canals
utricle and saccule

Auditory

Vestibular Cochlear
Function of Inner Ear

• Convert mechanical sound


waves to neural impulses
that can be recognized by
the brain for:
– Hearing
– Balance
Cochlea
• The cochlea resembles a
snail shell and spirals for
about 2 3/4 turns around
a bony column
• Within the cochlea are
three canals:
– Scala Vestibuli
– Scala Tympani
– Scala Media
Organ of Corti
Organ of Corti
Organ of Corti
OHC vs. IHC Function
VIII Cranial Nerve

Virtual Tour of the Ear


Auditory Branch
Vestibular Branch
Auditory Branch
Spiral ganglion
Vestibular Branch
Acoustic Tumors
Acoustic Neuroma
Central Auditory Mechanism

Virtual Tour of the Ear


Auditory Path

Auditory Path

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