HUMAN ANATOMY EVALS

Lecture 3: HISTOLOGY OF THE EAR

7
Lecturer: Kent P. Ermita, M.D.

INTRODUCTION External Auditory Meatus (Ear Canal)

Canal
The ears are a pair of complex organs that contain the receptors o Outer ⅓ - made up of cartilage (same that of
for two important sensory functions: hearing and equilibrium. the auricle), has sweat glands and hair
The ear has 3 different regions: outer ear, middle ear and inner follicles
o Inner ⅔ - is bony and has ceruminous glands
(modified sweat glands that secrete cerumen
Lecture Content “tutuli”) and sebaceous glands
o Both portions covered with skin
1. Outer/External Ear o Separated from middle ear by the Tympanic
Auricle Membrane
External auditory meatus
2. Middle Ear (Tympanic Cavity)
Auditory ossicles Tympanic Membrane
o Malleus/Hammer o Fibrous membrane
o Incus/Anvil o Has 3 layers:
o Stapes/Stirrup 
Muscle Outer surface: facing the external
auditory meatus, has stratified
o Tensor Tympani
o Stapedius  
squamous epithelium (similar to
that of the skin)
Eustachian Tube / Auditory Tube / 
Pharyngotympanic Tube   collagenous fibers that
Middle surface:
are arranged
3. Inner/Internal Ear/Labyrinth Radial motion (inner
Bony Labyrinth portion of the collagenous
o Cochlea  fiber)
o Modiolus
Circular motion (outer
o Spiral Lamina
portion of the collagenous
 Vestibule  fiber)
 Semicicular canals
Membranous Labyrinth 
 ear, has simple
Inner: facing the middle
o Utricle (vestibule) cuboidal epithelium
o Saccule (vestibule)
o Semicicular duct (semicircular canal)
o Duct of Cochlea (Bony cochlea)

ear.

Figure 2. Tympanic Membrane

MIDDLE EAR

● Narrow, irregular, air-filled chamber

Figure 1. Anatomic Division of the Right Ear
OUTER EAR
Auricle
Auricular cartilage (a single piece of elastic
cartilage) Covered by skin
In the ear lobe – composed of connective tissue,
adipose tissue (fats), rudimentary muscles that
actually attaches the auricle to the skull.
● Located in the petrous part of temporal bone
● Houses the 3 ossicles and 2 tiny muscles
● Connected to the nasopharynx via Eustachian tube
● Separated from outer ear by the Tympanic Membrane
● Boundaries:
o Laterally: tympanic membrane
o Medially: prominence (promontory) where the oval or
round window is located
o Posteriorly: communicates with mastoid antrum
o Anteriorly: communicates with nasopharynx via
Eustachian tube (auditory or pharyngotympanic)
● 3 Auditory Ossicles o
Malleus (Hammer)
o Incus (Anvil)
o Stapes (Stirrup) - Its footplate secures the oval
window via Annular Ligament

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 INNER EAR

More complicated part of the ear

Houses the apparatus and receptors for hearing and
balance
Fluid-filled cavities within petrous part of temporal
bone Has 2 Labyrinths:
Bony Labyrinth Membranous Labyrinth
Bounded by: ● Found within the
● Laterally: Middle bony labyrinth
ear ● Membrane-bound
● Medially: Internal circular and
Acoustic Meatus flattened
(passagewayfor ducts/tubes
Vestibulocochlear
Nerve or CN VIII) Fluid:
● Endolymph
Fluid: (similar to
● Perilymph (similar intracellular fluid –
to CSF) high concentration
of potassium)
3 parts:
● Cochlea (snail-like 2 components:
portion) ● Cochlear duct (for
● Vestibule hearing)
● Semicircular Canal ● Vestibular
(Anterior, Posterior apparatus (for
and Lateral) balance)
- Utricle & saccule
- Ampulla (inside
the semicircular
canal, dilated part)
Figure 3&4. Ossicles of the Ear (Stapes, Incus and Malleus)
Malleus articulates with Ear drum/Tympanic
membrane Incus articulates with Malleus and Stapes
Stapes articulates with Incus and Oval Window

2 skeletal muscles - secures and avoids the ossicles

from breaking due to vibrations (a.k.a
soundwaves) o Tensor tympani
o Stapedius - secures the stapes (stirrup)

Figure 6. The Inner Ear

Note that the membranous labyrinth (blue) is INSIDE the bony
labyrinth (red/pink)

Cochlea
For hearing
Resembles a snail
The center part is composed of bony structure called
Modiolus
Has tunnels spiraling around modiolus
Figure 5. Tensor Tympani and Stapedius Muscles
Right ear – Sagittal view & medial aspect of the ear drum

Sound Waves → Outer ear → External Auditory Canal

→ Tympanic Membrane → vibration → Malleus
(Hammer) → Incus (Anvil) → Foot plate of Stapes
(Stirrup) → Oval Windows

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 Figure 7. Cochlea Figure 8. Scala/Chambers of the Cochlea
Spiral Ganglion is at the inner aspect
Modiolus of Cochlea Striae Vascularis is at the outer aspect
Contains sensory fibers or afferent fibers of bipolar
sensory neurons Endolymph – produced by the Striae Vascularis (same
Has outward extensions called Osseous Spiral as intracellular membrane)
Lamina
Has several cell bodies or ganglion for Organ of Corti
hearing also collectively known as Floor of Organ of Corti: Basilar
Spiral Ganglion Membrane Contains 2 cells:
The other side of osseous spiral lamina + o Hair cells
thickening of periosteum is called Striae o Supporting cells (several types)
  
Vascularis Pillar or rod cell
Osseous Spiral Lamina and Striae 
 Phalangeal  cells
Vascularis will connect via the Spiral Tunnel of corti – triangular tunnel
Ligament → forming a complex called o Formed by the rod or pillar cells
Basilar Membrane o INNER ROD CELL - Portion of tunnel closest to
the modiolus
Compartments of Cochlea o OUTER ROD CELL - Closest to the
Scala Vestibuli – has perilymph; located Stria Vascularis
above vestibular membrane
Phalangeal Cells
Scala Media – has endolymph; located
above Basilar membrane o Designed so hair cells will not touch the
basilar hair cells
Scala Tympani – contains perilymph; below
o Inner phalangeal cells are arranged in a
the basilar membrane single file
o On top of the phalangeal cells are hair cells
Tabular Representation of Compartments of Cochlea   
Inner Hair Cell
Cochlear Boundaries Fluid Content 
Chamber  On top of INNER 
phalangeal cell
Scala Vestibuli Above Vestibular Perilymph  
One single-file line
/ Vestibular Membrane Outer Hair Cell
Duct 
Vestibular Membrane/Reissner’s Membrane On top of OUTER 
phalangeal cell
Scala Media / Below Vestibular Endolymph  
Three single-file lines
Cochlear Duct Membrane/Reissner’s Hair cells
Membrane
o Sensory cell
o On the apical portion of hair cells:
Above Basilar
o Apical modification: embedded in a
Membrane
gelatinous protein
Basilar Membrane  
Has tectorial membrane
Scala Tympani Below Basilar Perilymph o Ripples of fluid that cause kinking
/ Tympanic Membrane → kinocilium
Duct 

Bending of kinocilium will elicit
action potential

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Figure 9. Organ of Corti in Scala Media / Cochlear Duct

MNEMONIC: 3 = OUT (OUT has 3

letters) 1 = 1n (IN)
REFERENCES:
Semicircular Canals
Membranous labyrinth 1. Lecture Notes
Ampulla is a dilatation part of the semicircular 2. PPT
canals. It has Crista Ampullaris (also termed as 3. Books
neuroepithelium)
Has hair cells and supporting cells
Sustentacular cells
Neuroepithelium covered with a gelatinous-
like protein, Cupula.

Saccule & Utricle

Collectively termed as Macula
Both are involved in balance
Composed of neuroepithelium
Have hair cells and supporting cells
Hair cells are covered with Otolith membrane
On top of gelatinous protein has otoliths or
statoliths which gives a feeling of proprioception in
the head
Movement of otoliths will be the reason for vertigo “Ohana means family – and family means no one gets left
behind!” - Stitch
Vertigo is a feeling as if the environment
around them is moving. Often like a spinning
or swaying movement which can be Go Batch 2020 MED FAMILY! God hears our
associated with nystagmus, nausea, prayers always. [:
vomiting and difficulty in walking.

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