Anatomy of the Ear

By
Abdulmujeeb

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 LECTURE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to:
•Understand the basic embryological development of the ear.
•List parts of the ear.
•Describe parts of External ear: auricle & external auditory
meatus and give their nerve supply and its applied anatomy.
•Describe roof, floor, and walls of Middle ear and enumerate its
contents.
•Identify parts and function of auditory tube.
•Name parts of Internal ear: bony & membranous labyrinth.

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 Outer & Middle ear Dvt.
Outer ear: from first pharyngeal groove(cleft) , but the tubercle and
muscles from Pharygeal arches 1&2

Middle ear: from first pharyngeal pouch , the

muscles and bones from Pharygeal arches 1 & 2
• Epithelium is of endodermal origin from the 1st
pharyngeal pouch.
• The pouch expanding in the lateral direction the
distal part( tubotympanic recess) widens to form
the tympanum.
• Malleus and Incus dev. from 1st arch while stapes
from the 2nd arch.

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• Development of inner ear

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 The inner ear
Development.
• Recognised as early as the 22nd day IUL.
• Otic placodes at each side of the rhombencephalon.
(neuroectodermal origin)
• Invaginate rapidly to form auditory
vesicles(otocytes).
• Each vesicle divides into a ventral (definitive saccule
and choclear duct: spiral organ) and a dorsal
component(utricle and semisaccular canal).
• All sensory nerve of inner ear from neuroectoderm.

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 Ventral component
• Saccule grows a tubular outpocketing
penetrating surrounding mesenchyme forming
the chocclear duct.
• 10th week mesenchyme forms cartilage which on
vacoulization forms the perilymphatic spaces.
• Epithelial cells of the chochlear divide into an
inner ridge(spiral limbus) and an outer ridge(hair
cells).
• A membrane covering the outer ridge becomes
the tectorial membrane –organ of corti.
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 Dorsal component

• 6th week semicircular canals appear as

outpocketings of the utricular part of the
vesicle.
• Each dilates at the end to form the crus
ampullare.

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 short note
• 22day - otic placode
• 24days - otic fovea
• 28days - otic fovea – oticyst
• 30dyas - inner ear
• End of 6wks - middle ear
• End of 8wk - outer ear

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 Disorders of the Outer Ear
Accessory auricle Additional pinna or auricular tissue
Anotia Congenital absence of pinna
Cleft pinna Congenital fissure of the pinna
Coloboma lobuli Congenital fissure of the earlobe
Macrotia Congenital excessive enlargement of the auricle
Microtia Congenital small pinna
Melotia Congenital displacement of the pinna
Low-set-ears Congenitally displaced pinna
Polyotia Additional pinna on one or both sides
Preauricular tags Small appendage anterior to pinna
Scroll ear Rim (helix) of pinna is rolled forward and inward
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 Outer Ear Hearing Disorders

• Down Syndrome
– Ears small and low
set
• Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome
– Deformed ears
• DiGeorge syndrome
– Low set ears
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 Function of Outer Ear

• Collects sound
• Localization
• Resonator
• Protection
• Sensitive (earlobe)

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 THE AURICLE (PINNA)

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 EXTERNAL ACOUSTIC (AUDITORY)
MEATUS

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 External Auditory Meatus

• Extends from the pinna to the tympanic membrane

– About 26 mm and 2-3cm 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
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greatest in this frequency region
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– Noises in this range are the most hazardous to hearing
 Cerumen (wax)-secreted by ceruminous
glands (modified sweat glands)

• 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 canalAremu lecture series 2017
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 External Ear Care

Hazardous to
health:
• Ear candling
• Swabs
• Foreign objects

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 TYMPANIC MEMBRANE
(EAR DRUM)

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 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
• The eardrum vibrates in
response to sound pressure
waves.
• The membrane movement is
incredibly small
– as little as one-billionth of a
centimeter
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 Tympanic Membrane
• Separates outer ear from middle ear
• Barrier from foreign objects
• Cone-shaped in appearance
– about 17.5 mm in diameter
• Vibrates in response to sound
waves.
• The membrane movement is
incredibly small
– as little as one-billionth of a
centimeter

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 Tympanic membrane
Two parts:
Pars flaccida – upper, thin, loose
Pars tensa – lower, tense

Three layers:
1. Outer, cutaneous – continuation of
the canal skin. No hairs and glands.
2. Middle, fibrous – elastic fibers.
3. Inner, mucous – tympanic cavity
lining

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 posterior anterior

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 MIDDLE EAR
• The middle ear or tympanic cavity lies in the
temporal bone.
• It has a greater height than the meatus and the
tympanic membrane.
• Its floor is a little below the level of the inferior
border of the membrane, and it extends well
above the upper border.
• This upper extension of the tympanic cavity is
the epitympanic recess, often referred to by
clinicians as the “attic.”
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 Epitympanic recess

Tympanic cavity proper

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 Tympanic cavity

• Volume – 1.5 ml
• Form – flatten drum
• Structure – six walls:
- Lateral
- Medial
- Anterior
- Posterior
- Superior
- Inferior

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 Typmanic cavity
• The roof (Tegmental wall): this is formed by the
tegmen tympani which seperates the tympanic
cavity from dura mater. This is related to
middle cranial fossa
• The floor (Jugular wall): this is formed by the
bone that separate the tympanic cavity from
the sup. Bulb of the internal jugular vein.
• The Lateral (membranous wall): this largely
formed by the tympanic membrane.
• The medial (labyrinthine wall): this is formed by
the lateral wall ofAremu
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inner ear.
lecture series 2017 39
 Typmanic cavity
• The posterior (mastoid wall): this is formed
by the adittus to the mastoid antrum.
• The anterior (carotid wall): this formed by
a thin bone that separate the tympanic
membrane and the int. carotid arteries.

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 Anterior
(carotid)
wall

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 Canal for
Tensor tympani

Bony part of
Auditory tube

Internal carotid artery

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 Posterior (mastoid)
wall

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Aditus to
Mastoid antrum

Pyramid

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 Roof (tegmental)
wall

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 Tegmen tympani

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 Floor (Jugular)
wall

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 Tympanic branch of XI

Internal jugular vein

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 Medial (Labyrinthine)
wall

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 Promontory
Prominence of
Facial n. canal

Fenestra vestibuli

Fenestra chocleae

Sinus tympani

Tympanic plexus of ns.

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 Lateral (membranous)
wall

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 Ossicles
• Malleus
(hammer)
• Incus (anvil)
• Stapes
(stirrup)
smallest
bone of the
body

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 Malleus

Anteri Poster
or ior
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 Muscles of
tympanic cavity

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• Tensor tympani
– Attached to malleus
– Innervated by V, trigeminal
nerve
• Stapedius
– Attached to stapes
– Innervated by VII, facial nerve
• Middle Ear Muscle
Function:
– Help maintain ossicles in
proper position
– Protect inner ear from
excessive sound levels
– This protective reflex termed
"acoustic reflex" Aremu lecture series 2017
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 Action
• The tensor tympani and stapedius usually
contract together in reflex response to sounds of
fairly high intensity, exerting a 'protective
damping effect before vibrations reach the
internal ear
• The tensor pulls the tympanic membrane
inwards to tense it and also pushes the stapes
more tightly into the fenestra vestibuli.
• The stapedius muscle opposes the tensor in the
latter action.
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 Ligaments of Middle Ear

• Function
– restrict and confine
the effect of
ossicles to act as a
lever
– restrict movements
to reduce the
chance of damage
to the inner ear
– prevents distortion
to sound
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 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)
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 Middle Ear Disorders
• Middle Ear disorders
– Acute otitis media
– Otosclerosis
– Disarticulation
– Mastoiditis
– Tympanosclerosis
– TM Perforation
– TM Retraction
– Cholesteatoma
• Down Syndrome
• Treacher Collins
Syndrome
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 Pharyngotympanic
(Auditory)
tube

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 Eustachian Tube

• The eustachian tube connects the front wall of the

middle ear with the nasopharynx
• 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
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 Tympanic
caviry

Pharynx
36 mm in length
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 INTERNAL EAR
• The internal ear consists of a series
of cavities in the petrous part of the
temporal bone osseous labyrinth
within which lies a correspondingly
complex fluid filled sac and ducts the
membranous labyrinth.

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 Inner Ear

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 Internal ear contd.
• The space between the membranous and
bony labyrinths is filled with perilymph or
perilymphatic fluid.
• Similarly, the membranous labyrinth is
filled with endolymph or endolymphatic
fluid.

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 Internal ear contd.
• The endolymph and perilymph do not
communicate with one another.
• The bony labyrinth forms a continuous
mass, and the cavity within it is one
continuous cavity.
• Similarly, all parts of the membranous
labyrinth are connected together.

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 Internal ear contd.
• The parts of the osseous labyrinth are in
order from front to back:
• cochlear canal or the cochlea,
• vestibule
• semicircular canals.

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 Internal ear contd.
• The parts of the membranous labyrinth
are:
• cochlear duct (concerned with hearing)
• utricle and saccule (within the vestibule
and concerned with static balance),
• semicircular ducts (within semicircular
canals and concerned with kinetic
balance.

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 Vestibule
• The vestibule is the central chamber of the
bony labyrinth. It is a small oval chamber.
• The sense organs are within two
membranous sacs: the posterior sac is the
utriculus, and the anterior sac is the
sacculus.
• Each makes an impression on the medial
wall of the vestibule, and they are united
only by a tiny utriculosaccular duct.
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 Bony cochlea
• It is continuous with vestibule anteriorly,
and the bony semicircular canals, lying
largely above and lateral to it, each are
continuous with it at both their ends.

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 Semicircular canals
• The semicircular canals lie in three planes
at right angle to each other.
• Each is about two thirds of a circle. They
have a somewhat different function from
the utriculus and sacculus, although they
also are connected with balance, it is
apparently movement alone, not
position, that stimulates them.

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 Semicircular canals
• Each bony semicircular canal is much
larger than the membranous canal
(semicircular duct) that it contains, but one
end of each duct is dilated to form a
structure known as the ampulla, and the
bony canal is also somewhat dilated here.

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 Semicircular canals
• In the ampulla of each semicircular duct
there is a large projection, the ampullary
crest that contains neuroepithelial cells,
the hairs of which project into a gelatinous
mass (cupula) that occludes the lumen of
the membranous ampulla.
• Apparently, the pressure of the endolymph
bends the cupula and this, in turn,
stimulates the hair cells.

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 Semicircular canals
• An important reflex connection of the
semicircular ducts is with the muscles that
move the eyes; when the head is moving,
the eyes can move in the opposite
direction to allow fixation of gaze.

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 Semicircular canals
• Each canal apparently controls certain
muscles of the eyeball, so that stimulation
of one will produce movement of the eyes
in one direction and stimulation of another
canal will produce movement in another
direction.

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 Bony and membranous labyrinth

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 Semicircular canal
• The anterior and posterior semicircular
canals are placed vertically
• The lateral canal arches laterally,
backward, and slightly downward (it is not
quite horizontal)

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 Cochlea
• Cochlea concerned with hearing, consists
of a bony cochlea and a membranous
cochlear duct.
• Endolymph fills the cochlear duct, and
perilymph largely surrounds this and fills
the rest of the bony cochlea.
• The cochlea somewhat resembles the
shell of a snail and it takes the form of a
short cone.
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 Cochlea
• The part of the base lying against the
meatus presents apertures through which
the cochlear division of the eighth nerve
leaves the cochlea.
• The axial bony stem around which the
canal spirals is the modiolus.
• Through its hollow center, it transmits the
branches of the cochlear nerve to the
internal acoustic meatus.
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 Cochlea
• The lamina contains tiny canals for nerve
fibers. At the attached end of the lamina,
these canals unite to form a larger one,
the spiral canal of the cochlea, which
houses the spiral (cochlear) ganglion and
opens into the hollow of the modiolus.

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 Cochlear

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 Membranous labyrinth
• Membranous labyrinth is a replica of the hollow
bony labyrinth. It consists of one closed cavity
containing endolymph.
• The membranous covering consists of three
layers. The outer layer is vascular, forms stria
vascularis which produces endolymph. The
middle layer is like a basal lamina.
• The inner epithelial layer is elaborated in three
places into receptors of sound, static balance
and kinetic balance, supplied by cochlear
(hearing) and vestibular (balance) divisions of
the eighth nerve.

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 Spiral organ (of Corti)
• The histology of the complicated spiral
organ (of Corti) has among its tall
epithelial cells some neuroepithelial hair
cells, from the outer surface of which
project tiny hair-like processes.

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 Spiral organ (of Corti)
• Nerve fibers end around these epithelial
cells, and some of their hair-like processes
are attached, in the living condition, to a
fibrogelatinous mass, the tectorial
membrane, that lies against the otherwise
free surface of the spiral organ.

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 Spiral organ (of Corti)
• This membrane is attached to the upper or
vestibular lip of the spiral lamina, and its
free edge extends just beyond the
outermost neuroepithelial cells.
• Vibration of the perilymph or endolymph
stimulates the neuroepithelial cells.

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 Cochlear

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 Scala vestibuli and tympani

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 Cochlear duct and Spiral organ

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 Basilar membrane

Vibration of basilar membrane stimulates hair cells

→ impulses relayed to brain for interpretation
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 Blood and nerve supply
• The bony labyrinth is supplied by the:
• anterior tympanic branch of the
maxillary,
• stylomastoid branch of the posterior
auricular,
• petrosal branch derived from the
middle meningeal).

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 Blood and nerve supply

• Membranous labyrinth - the labyrinthine

artery.
• The veins include vestibular veins and a spiral
vein in the modiolus. The chief drainage is
through a labyrinthine vein and opening into
either the inferior petrosal or the sigmoid sinus.

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 Saccule and utricle
• The saccule is a fibrous sac that lies in the lower
front part of the vestibule, connected to the basal
part of the cochlear duct by the small ductus .
• The utricle is the larger of the two vestibular
sacs. It is indirectly connected to the saccule by
the ductus endolymphaticus and the ductus
utricosaccularis.
• The medial wall of the saccule and the floor of
the utricle are thickened to form the maculae,
the areas that contain the sensory receptors for
balance.

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 Utricle and
saccule
Detect orientation of
head in space

Movement of otoliths
stimulate hair cells

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 Statoconia/Otoliths

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 Crista ampullaris

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 Vestibulocochlear nerve

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 The eighth nerve.
• At the distal (lateral) end of the internal
acoustic meatus, the eighth nerve divides
into a vestibular and a cochlear part.
• The vestibular part, in turn, divides into a
superior and an inferior part, each of which
bears a part of the vestibular ganglion.

end
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 contents of middle ear

• Auditory ossicles : Malleus, Incus

& Stapes
• Stapedius & tensor tympani,
• a branch of cranial nerve
• Tympanic plexus of nerves
formed by fascial nerve and
glossopharyngeal nerve

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 Summary of inner ear
• Made up of 4 basic structures: Vestibule, 3
semi circular canal , cochlear & internal
acoustic meatus
• Cochlear ( scali vestibuli , cochlear duct &
scali tympani)
( perilymph & Endolymph), oval
window& round window
• Vestibule ( saccular & utricle)
• Semi circular canal ( ant, post & lat),
ampullary crest : kinetic balance
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 Applied anatomy
• Most congenital disorders of the eyes and ears are
caused by genetic factors or intrauterine infections such
as rubella virus
• Congenital deafness
• External otitis
• Acute purulent otitis media
• Perforation of the tympanic membrane
• Otosclerosis
• Ménière’s (ma￣n-e-a￣rz') disease
• Auditory Impairment(conductive & Perceptive dfnes)

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 Applied anatomy ( cont’d)
• aggressive infection in the middle ear can
spread to the middle cranial fossa thru
tegmen tympani, goes as far as temporal
lobe of the cerebal cortex, causing
temporal cerebral abscesses.

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 Practice questions

1. The stimulation of hair cells in the semicircular ducts results

from the
• movement of
• (a) endolymph.
• (b) perilymph.
• (c) the statoconial membrane.
2. The middle ear is separated from the inner ear by
• (a) the cochlear window.
• (b) the tympanic membrane.
• (c) the vestibular window.
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(d) both a and c. Aremu lecture series 2017 109