ANATOMY OF THE EAR

Supervisor :
dr. H. Oscar Djauhari, Sp.THT-KL

Presentator :
Anindita (2016.061.041)
Prayogi Miura (2016.061.093)
Main Components of the Hearing
Mechanism:
Divided into 4 parts (by function):

Outer Ear

Middle Ear

Inner Ear

Central Auditory Nervous System

 Outer Ear
Auricle (Pinna)
External Auditory Canal
Tympanic Membrane
 Structures of the Auricle

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 cartilaginous

part

Inner 2/3 bony part

Allows air to warm before

reaching TM

Isolates TM from physical

damage

Cerumen glands
moisten/soften skin

Presence of some cerumen

is normal
 External Auditory Canal

Lateral third : cartilaginous portion > contains

cerumen-producing glands & hair follicles.
Medial two-thirds : bony portion > epithelial lining
over the tympanic membrane.
Tympanic Membrane

Thin membrane

Forms boundary between

outer and middle ear

Vibrates in response to
sound waves

Changes acoustical energy

into mechanical energy

Protects the middle ear

space from foreign
material of the EAC
Blood Supply
the posterior auricular artery
the anterior auricular branch of the
superficial temporal artery
the occipital artery
Blood Supply of
External Ear
Innervation
N. Occipitalis minor (C2)
o upper part of cranial (medial) surface
N. Auricularis magnus (C3)
o Including most of cranial (medial) surface
N. Auriculotemporalis (CN V3) :
o Including tragus and anterior wall of external
auditory canal
Auricular branch of N. Vagus (CN X)
N. Facialis (CN VII)
Innervation of External Ear
Innervation inside the external
auditory canal
Middle Ear
Tympanic Cavity
Ossicles
Eustachian Tube
Mastoid Air Cells
Surfaces of the Middle Ear
Lateral Tympanic membrane

Anterior Eustachian tube

Posterior Aditus ad antrum

Superior Tegmen tympani

Inferior Jugular vein

Surfaces of the Middle Ear
Medial wall:
A well marked rounded buldge: Promontary
produced by first turn of the cochlea
Rounded Window: Lies below & behind the
promontary
Oval Window: above and behind the promontary
closed by the foot of the stapes & leads to the
vestibule of internal ear
The horizontal part of facial canal: arching above the
promontary & oval window
Tympanic Cavity
Epitympanum
Above the tympanic membrane.
Small and contains little air.
Contains the principal mass of the auditory
ossicles.
Tympanic part of the facial nerve > boundary
between the epitympanum & mesotympanum.
Mesotympanum
Mesotympanum : the
portion of the tympanic
cavity at the level of the
tympanic membrane.
Contains the round window,
the oval window with the
stapes, and the promontory
(bony prominence overlying
the basal turn of the
cochlea).
Hypotympanum
Below the level of the tympanic membrane.
Hypotympanum borders on the bulb of the
jugular vein.
Contains cells (tympanic cells) that communicate
with the mastoid air cells.
 The Ossicles
Ossicular chain = malleus, incus &
stapes

Malleus
Attaches to TM 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
Mucous-lined, connects middle
ear cavity to nasopharynx
Equalizes air pressure in
middle ear
Normally closed, opens under
certain conditions yawning,
swallowing
May allow a pathway for
infection
Children grow out of most
middle ear problems as this
tube lengthens and becomes
more vertical
 Mastoid Process of
Temporal Bone
Bony ridge behind
the auricle
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
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
 Stapedius Muscle

Connects the stapes to the middle ear wall.

Contracts in response to loud sounds (Acoustic Reflex).

Changes stapes mode of vibration; makes it less efficient and

reduce loudness perceived.
Blood Supply of Middle Ear
Anterior tympanic branch of maxillary artery supplies
tympanic membrane

Stylomastoid branch of posterior auricular artery

supplies middle ear and mastoid air cells
Inner Ear
Bony Labyrinth
Membranous Labyrinth
Inner Ear
Consist of 2 part : bony labyrinth & membranous
labyrinth

Sensory organ hearing & balance

Cochlea hearing

Semicircular canals and vestibule balance

Bony Labyrinth

Rigid, bony outer

walls of inner ear
Cavities, lined by
periosteum
Contains clear
fluid perilymph
Bony Labyrinth
Vestibule

Semicircular canals

Cochlea
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
Membranous Labyrinth
Cochlear duct

Utricle and saccule

Semicircular ducts

Endolymphatic duct and sac

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
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