Anatomy and Physiology

of the Ear

Eslam Osman, M.D.,F.R.C.S (ORL, H&N Surgery)

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 Divisions Of The Ear

„ External Ear
„ Middle Ear
„ Inner Ear
„ Central Auditory Nervous System

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 Structures of the Outer Ear
Pinna
„ Collect sound

„ Localization

„ Resonator

„ Protection

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 External Auditory Canal

„ Extends from the pinna to the

tympanic membrane
„ 1 1/2 inch in length
„ Protects the eardrum
„ Wax

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 Structures of the Middle Ear

„ Tympanic Membrane
„ Tympanic Cavity
„ Ossicles
„ Middle Ear Muscles
„ Eustachian Tube
„ Mastoid

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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
„ The eardrum vibrates in response to
sound pressure waves.
„ Changes acoustic energy into
mechanical energy
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 Ossicles

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

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 Middle Ear Muscles
„ Tensor tympani
• Attached to malleus
„ Stapedius
• Attached to stape
„ Middle Ear Muscle Function:
• Help maintain ossicles in proper position
• Protect inner ear from excessive sound levels
• This protective reflex termed "acoustic reflex"

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 Eustachian Tube
„ The ET connects the front wall of the
middle ear with the nasopharynx
„ It operates like a valve, which opens
during swallowing and yawning
„ It equalizes the pressure on either
side of the eardrum, which is
necessary for optimal hearing.

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 Mastoid

„ Bony ridge behind the auricle

„ Connect with middle ear
„ Can get infected ( Mastoiditis)

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 Function of Middle Ear

„ Conduction

„ Protection

„ Transducer

„ Amplifier
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 Amplifier
„ 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

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 Structures of the Inner Ear

„ Cochlea

„ Vestibule

„ Semicircular canals

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 Cochlea
„ Snail-shaped organ
with a series of
fluid-filled tunnels
„ converts
mechanical energy
into electrical
energy
„ It contain Organ of
Corti ( end organ of
hearing)

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 Traveling Waves

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 Vestibular System

„ Consists of vestibule and three semi-

circular canals
„ Shares fluid with the cochlea
„ Controls balance
„ No part in hearing process

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 Central Auditory Pathway
„ Pathway between
cochlea and
auditory cortex

„ Cochlear nerve

„ Cochlear nucleus

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 Causes of Tinnitus
„Local causes
Every ear disease can be associated
with deafness

„General Causes
Cardiovascular disease
Neurological conditions

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 Classification of Tinnitus

„ Unilateral or bilateral
„ Subjective or objective
„ Pulsatile or non pulsatile

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 Key Points in History

„ Accompanying ear disease

„ History of noise exposure
„ Trauma
„ Ototoxic medications
„ Systemic Diseases

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 THANK YOU

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