KP – 2 Histologi THT

3 major parts: 1. The external ear: receives sound waves 2. The middle ear: sound waves transmitted
from air to fluids of the internal ear via a set of small bones 3. The internal ear: Fluid movements
transduced to nerve impulses that pass via the acoustic nerve to the CNS, Contains the vestibular organ
which allows the body to maintain equilibrium

External ear :

- Pinna: An irregular funnel shaped plate of elastic cartilage, Covered by tightly adherent skin,
Directs sound waves into the ear
- The external acoustic meatus: A canal extending from lateral surface of head – Outer third wall
supported by elastic cartilage, Inner part encloses by temporal bone, Stratified squamous
epithelium continuous with skin of auricle with hair follicles, sebaceous glands, & ceruminous
glands in submucosa
- The tympanic membrane or eardrum = An epithelial sheet : External side covered with
epidermis, Inner surface covered with simple cuboidal epithelium continuous with the lining of
middle ear, In between: fibrous connective tissue layer composed of collagen, elastic fibers &
fibroblasts, Vibrations produced by sound waves transmit sound wave energy to middle & inner
ear

Middle Ear :

An irregular space within temporal bone, Anterior: Auditory tube (Eustachian or Pharyngotympanic
tube), Posterior: Air-filled mastoid cavities of temporal bone, Medial: the oval & round windows  2
membranecovered regions devoid of bone, Lateral: the tympanic membrane, Covered with simple
cuboidal epithelium resting on a thin lamina propria, strongly adherent to periosteum, 3 the auditory
ossicles, 2 small skeletal muscles insert into the malleus & stapes

Internal Ear :

Located completely within the temporal bone, consist of:

A. The bony labyrinth:

1. The vestibule = an irregular central cavity, houses the saccule & the utricle

2. 3 osseous semicircular canals: enclose the semicircular ducts

3. The cochlea, (L. cochlea, snail, screw): Contains the cochlear duct, About 35 mm in length & makes
two and-one half turns around the modiolus

B. The modiolus:

– A bony core, contains blood vessels – Surroundsthe cell bodies – Processes of the acoustic branch of
the eighth cranial nerve in the large spiral or cochlear ganglion

– The membranous labyrinth: A set of continuous fluid-filled, epithelium-lined tubes & chambers inside
the bony labyrinth, Derived from the otocyst or otic vesicle (an ectodermal vesicle)
Respiratory Epithelium :

Most of the conducting portion is lined with respiratory epithelium, Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar
Epithelium, Has at least five cell types: 1. Ciliated columnar cells 2. Goblet cells 3. Brush cells 4. Small
granule cells 5. Basal cells

Nasal Cavity ( The Vestibule ) :

Has two components:

– The vestibule - external

– The nasal cavities(or fossae) – Internal

The vestibule:

– The most anterior & dilated portion

– Covered with skin, sweat glands, sebaceous glands & short coarse vibrissae (hairs)

– Transition of epithelium: keratinized stratified squamous epithelium  loses its keratinized nature 
typical respiratory epithelium before entering the nasal fossae

Nasal Cavity ( or Fossae ) :

Consist of

– Nasal septum

– The Conchae:

a. Three bony shelflike projectionsfrom lateral wall

b. The middle & inferior = covered with respiratory epithelium
c. The superior = covered with olfactory epithelium
d. Swell bodies (large venous plexuses) in lamina propria: Every 20–30 minutes, temporarily
engorged with blood -> distension of conchal mucosa & decrease in the flow of air -> allowing
the engorged respiratory mucosa to recover from dehydration

The Paranasal sinuse :

- Bilateral cavities in frontal, maxillary, ethmoid & sphenoid bones

- Lined with a thinner respiratory epithelium & fewer goblet cells
- Communicate with nasal cavities through small openings
- Mucus in sinuses moved into the nasal passages by ciliated epithelial cells