ANATOMY OF INNER EAR

Dr Vikas
Major Divisions of the Ear
Inner Ear
Consists of an irregular system of canals and
cavities:

 Bony labyrinth

 Membranous labyrinth
 Bony labyrinth: Hard, bony
outer shell.

Membranous labyrinth: Fully

contained inside the bony
labyrinth
.
Bony labyrinth
 Vestibule – central chamber of labyrinth. In its lateral wall
lies the oval window. Inside of its medial wall present two
recess, a spherical recess lodges the saccule and an
elliptical recess which lodges the utricle.
 Semicircular canals -The vestibule and semicircular
canals are concerned with vestibular function (balance)
 Cochlea- The cochlea is concerned with hearing.
Parts of the Bony labrynth
Membraneous labrynth
Parts of the Membraneous labrynth

Cochlear duct

Utricle

Saccule

Three semicircular canals

Endolymphatic duct and sac

Membranous labyrinth
 Within the cavity is the membranous labyrinth,
with 2 sacs:
A. Utricle
B. Saccule
C. 3 semicircular ducts from the utricle(
anterior, Posterior, lateral)
D. cochlear duct (bony spiral)
 Endolymph, fluid within the membranous
labyrinth
 Perilymphatic space, separates the osseous
from the membranous labyrinth
 Perilymph, fluid within the perilymphatic space.
Membranous labyrinth of the ear
Semicircular Canals
 Three semicircular canals-
 Lateral (Horizontal)
 Superior ( Anterior vertical)
 Posterior ( Posterior vertical)
 Each canal is 0.8 mm in diameter, has a ampullated
limb measuring 2mm in diameter & a nonampullated
limb which is 1mm in diameter.
 Occupies 2/3rd of a circle
 Ampulla is cribrosed for passage of nerve fibers
 Ampullated & nonampullated limbs all open into the
vestibule
 The non ampullated ends of posterior and superior
canals join & form Crus Commune (4 mm length) it
opens into medial part of vestibule.
 So three SCC opens into vestibule by 5 openings.
Semicircular Canals
 The angle formed by three semicircular canals is the Solid angle.
Trautmann’s triangle.
 The triangle bounded by the bony labyrinth, sigmoid
sinus, and superior petrosal sinus is known as
Trautmann’s triangle.
 This triangle is a potential weak spot through which
infections of temporal bone may traverse and
affect cerebellum.
 Extra dural abscess involving the posterior cranial
fossa is also possible when thin bone in this triangle
gets breached in infections / cholesteatoma involving
mastoid cavity.
 Since bone in this area is rather thin it can be drilled
out to enter into the posterior cranial fossa. This can
be used as an approach to posterior cranial fossa
lesions.
 The size of this triangle is highly variable depending
on the size of the sigmoid sinus. A large sigmoid sinus
reduces the size of this triangle and also increases
the angulation of the superior petrosal sinus with it.
This impedes the venous drainage predisposing to
the development of endolymphatic hydrops.
Horizontal semicircular canal
 The lateral or horizontal canal (external semicircular canal) is the
shortest of the three canals. Movement of fluid within this canal
corresponds to rotation of the head around a vertical axis (i.e.
the neck).
 Projects as rounded bulge in middle ear, aditus & antrum.
 Makes an angle of 30 with horizontal plane.
 It measures from 12 to 15 mm., and its arch is directed
horizontally backward and laterally; thus each semicircular canal
stands at right angles to the other two.
 Its ampullated end corresponds to the upper and lateral angle of
the vestibule, just above the fenestra vestibuli, where it opens
close to the ampullated end of the superior canal; its opposite
end opens at the upper and back part of the vestibule.
 The lateral canal of one ear is very nearly in the same plane as
that of the other; while the superior canal of one ear is nearly
parallel to the posterior canal of the other.
Superior semicircular canal
 The superior semicircular canal (anterior semicircular
canal) detects rotation of the head around a rostral-
caudal (anterior-posterior) axis, or in other words
rotation in the coronal plane. This occurs, for
example, when you move your head to touch your
shoulders.
 It is 15 to 20 mm in length, is vertical in direction, and
is placed transversely to the long axis of the petrous
portion of the temporal bone, on the anterior surface
of which its arch forms a round projection.
 Its lateral extremity is ampullated, and opens into the
upper part of the vestibule; the opposite end joins with
the upper part of the posterior canal to form the crus
commune, which opens into the upper and medial
part of the vestibule.
Posterior semicircular canal

 The posterior semicircular canal detects rotations of

the head in around the lateral axis. This occurs, for
example, when nodding your head.
 It is directed superiorly, as per its nomenclature, and
posteriorly, nearly parallel to the posterior surface of
the petrous bone.
 The vestibular canaliculus is immediately medial it.
 It detects rotations of the head in the sagittal plane. It
is the longest of the three canals, measuring from 18
to 22 mm. Its lower or ampullated end opens into the
lower & back part of the vestibule, and upper end into
the crus commune.
 Semicircular Canals
 Each membranous semicircular canal is filled with
endolymph, a potassium-rich extracellular fluid, and
is bathed in perilymph, which has the approximate
composition of cerebrospinal fluid.
 Ampulla, which contains the crista ampullaris and
cupula. The crista ampullaris is a saddle-shaped
gelatinous structure along one wall of the
membranous canal that contains hair cells, the
sensory cells of the vestibular system.
 The cupula acts as a membranous diaphragm,
stretching from the crista to the opposite walls of the
canal.
• Crista and cupula in each ampulla sense angular
acceleration
The attachment of the cupula, which extends from the apex of the
crista to the opposite wall of the membranous ampulla. Arrowheads
indicate subcupular space.
Vestibule
 Central chamber of labrynth (5 mm)
 Lateral wall contains oval
window(fenestra vestibuli) – closed
by footplate of stapes sorrounded
by annular ligament.
 Otolithorgans

 The utricle and saccule, together called the otolithorgans,

also contain hair cells that bend in response to
acceleration of the head.

 Instead of cristae, however, the sensory epithelium of

these organs is covered by flat, kidney-shaped sheets
called maculae.
 One macula is applied horizontally to the ceiling of the
utricle, whereas the other hangs sagittally on the wall of
the saccule. Each macula is a gelatinous matrix into
which hair cells project and which is studded with tiny
calcium carbonate granules called otoconia.
 Whereas the cristae have a specific gravity identical to
the surrounding endolymph, the otoconia increase the
density of the maculae and render them sensitive to
shearing forces parallel to their surfaces caused by
gravity or linear motions of the head.

 Any time the head moves linearly, the heavy maculae lag
behind, bending the hair cells embedded in them. The
utricle primarily senses lateral tilt and translation of the
head, whereas the saccule measures front-to-back tilt
and translation as well as motion aligned with the pull of
gravity.
 Hair cells located in the sensory
epithelia of the semicircular
canals and otolith organs are
responsible for transforming
motion into a modulation in the
discharge rate of afferent nerve
fibers innervating the vestibular
nerve.
Utricle
 Walls are composed of:
a. outer fibrous layer
b. intermediate delicate vascular connective tissue
c. inner squamous to low cuboidal except in
specialized receptor regions that are columnar and
more complex.
 Saccule
Endolymphatic duct = small ducts from utricle & saccule, Lined
by squamous to cuboidal epithelium up to membranous
labyrinth, near end it is transitional to tall columnar cells.
Endolymphatic sac is active site for absorption of endolymph.

 Light cells free surface has

 Dark cells
 Large irregular shaped nucleus,
smooth free surface.
 Cell base has shallow
infoldings of the membrane.
profuse long microvilli,
numerous micropinocytotic
invagination of membrane.
 With clear vacoules in apical
cytoplasm
 Plasma membrane at cell base
is smooth
 Lateral membrane is
extensively interdigitate with
neighboring cells.
 Specialized for absorption.
utricle
 Oblong and irregular
 Has anteriorly upward slope at an apparent
angle of 30
 It lies in posterior part of bony vestibule &
recieves the five openings of three SCC
 Utricle(4.33 mm) is bigger than saccule (2.4
mm) & lies superior to saccule
 Utricle connected to saccule via
utriculosaccular duct
 Its sensory organ macula is concerned with
Utricle ……
Dark and light cells are distinguishable in unspecialized regions
of the epithelium.

 Dark cells have highly  Light cells have sparse

irregular nuclei outline,
located near the apical
surface
 apical cytoplasm contains
coated vesicles, larger
smooth vesicles,
occasional lipid droplets.
 Basal cytoplasm with long
mitochondria.
 Function =Responsible for
ionic composition of the
endolymph.
microvilli on apical
surface, occasional
micropinocytosis vesicles.
 Cytoplasm has small
numbers of ribosomes &
few mitochondria.
 Function = Ion
transporting cells.
Macula Utriculae…
Found in the floor of the utricle, a thick special sensory epithelium,with
hair cells & supporting cells.
The kinocilium & stereocilia of the hair cells project into the underside
of the Otolithic membrane
Otoliths (otoconia) = minute 3-5um crystalline bodies of protein &
calcium carbonate embedded in Otolithic membrane.
Endolymphatic duct and sac
 Ducts from utricle and saccule unites and form
utriculosaccular duct

Continues as endolymphatic duct that passes

via the vestibular aqueduct
saccule
 lies anterior to utricle opposite the stapes footplate in
the bony vestibule.
 its sensory organ macula is concerned with linear
acceleration & decelaration.
 Saccule is connected to the cochlea via a thin reunion
duct.
Saccule
 Macula of saccule - ovoid thickening of the
wall of the anterior globular saccule.
 Found in the vertical anterior wall, hair cells
responds to movements at right angle &
activate the macula of utricle which is in
horizontal position when head is in upright
position, providing info to brain regarding
head position as to pull of gravity.
 Ductus utriculosaccularis - communication
between utricle to saccule.
 Ductus reuniens - short tube that runs from
the saccule to basal end of cochlear duct.
 Saccule
Endolymphatic duct - small ducts from utricle & saccule, Lined
by squamous to cuboidal epithelium up to membranous
labyrinth, near end it is transitional to tall columnar cells.
Endolymphatic sac is active site for absorption of endolymph.

 Dark cells  Light cells free surface has

 Large irregular shaped nucleus,
smooth free surface.
 Cell base has shallow
infoldings of the membrane.
profuse long microvilli,
numerous micropinocytotic
invagination of membrane.
 With clear vacoules in apical
cytoplasm
 Plasma membrane at cell base
is smooth
 Lateral membrane is
extensively interdigitate with
neighboring cells.
 Specialized for absorption.
Membranous labyrinth with the entire bony
labyrinth stripped away.
The Cochlea
 Snail shaped coiled tube
 2.5 to 2.75 turns round a
central pyramid of bone
called modiolus.
 30 mm long
 5 mm from base to apex & 9
mm around its base Anterio
medial to vestibule.
Modiolus ?

 Central pyramid of bone around

which cochlea forms
 The base of modiolus directed
towards internal acoustic meatus
 Transmits vessels and nerves to
cochlea
 Apex lies medial to tensor tympani
muscle
 Spiral lamina = spiral ledge from modiolus to
cochlear canal.
 Basilar membrane = thin sheet extending from
spiral lamina to spiral ligament of cochlea.
Movement of the the basilar membrane by pressure
changes induced by stapes footplate motion at the
oval window is a critical step in the transduction
process.

 Vestibular membrane = 2nd partition from soft tissue

ridge of spiral lamina to the spiral ligament.
• Reissner’s membrane = outer surface of vestibular
membrane, lined by thin squamous perilymphatic
cells.
 Lumen of cochlear canal is partitioned into 3 spiral
chambers:
1. scala vestibuli (above)
2. scala tympani (below)
Osseous spiral lamina ?

 A thin plate of bone winds spirally

around modiolus like the thread of
a screw .
 This bony lamina gives attachment
to the basilar membrane and
divides the bony cochlea tube into
three compartments.
1. Scala vestibuli
2. Scala tympani
3. Scala media (membraneous cochlea)
Rosenthal’s canal ?

 Spiral ganglions are situated in this canal

which runs along the osseous spiral
lamina.
The cochlea uncoiled

 Movement of the the basilar membrane by

pressure changes induced by stapes footplate
motion at the oval window is a critical step in the
transduction process
Scala vestibuli ?

 This uppermost channel is continuous with

vestibule and closed at oval window by
stapes footplate
Scala tympani ?

 This lowermost channel is closed by

secondary TM of round window
Scala media ?

 Bind coiled tube, connected to the saccule

via ductus reunions.
 Promontory ?

 A bony bulge in the medial wall of middle

ear , represents the basal coil of cochlea.

Aqueduct of cochlea?

 Scala tympani is connected with

subarachnoid space via aqueduct of
cochlea.
 It is thought to regulate perilymph &
pressure in bony labrynth.
Cochlear duct
Cochlear duct-relations &
boundaries

1. Basilar membrane – base

 It supports organ of corti
2. Reissners membrane
 Seperates scala media from scala vestibuli
3. Stria vascularis
 It contains vascular epithelium and secretes
endolymph
 Scala media is more or less triangular, formed by
Reissner’s membrane, basilar membrane and the
structure called the stria vascularis.
 The fluid that fills scala tympani and scala
vestibuli is called perilymph; the fluid that fills
scala media is called endolymph.
 The organ of Corti rests on the basilar membrane
within scala media.
Spiral limbus
 Limbus = A bulging of the osseous spiral lamina into
the scala media.
 The inner angle convergence of the vestibular
membrane and basilar membrane.
 Internal spinal sulcus = a tapering upper edge
projecting laterally over the recess of internal spinal
sulcus( tunnel).
 Auditory teeth = vertically oriented collagen fiber
bundles within the limbus.
 Interdental teeth = uniformly spaced along the upper
surface of the limbus between auditory teeth, secretes
the Tectorial membrane.
Tectorial membrane
 Secreted at the upper surface of interdental cells,
forms a cuticular layer over these cells
 Composed of fine filaments embedded in gelatinous
matrix rich in mucopolysaccharides.
 Fibers consists of a protein similar to epidermal
keratin.
 Basilar membrane
 Extends across the cochlear canal from spiral lamina to
the spiral ligament.
 Separates the scala media from the scala tympani
 Supports the Organ of Corti
 0.25 mm across x 35 m long from base of cochlea to apex.
 Has 2 zones:
Zona arcuata = thin, extends from medial attachment to
base of outer most cells of organ of Corti. Supports the
organ of Corti, with radially oriented 10 nm collagen like
fibrils.

Zona pectinata= thicker from organ of Corti to spiral

ligament. Trilaminar in structure. Upper layer is meshwork
of transverse fibers. Lower layer is of longitudinal fibers.
In between is structureless intermediate layer of few
fibroblasts like cells.
* The width of fibers vary from 0.20 mm to 0.36 mm at the
apex, the diameter of component fibers gradually
decreases  vibrate at higher frequency near base and
lower frequency near the Helicotrema, thereby
 Notice the stria vascularis
(also area vascularis) –
The s.v. secretes
endolymph.

Notice also the spiral

ligament, which
attaches the b.m. to
the bony wall of the
cochlea, and the
limbus (or limbus
spiralis), a fibrous
covering of the spiral
lamina.

modiolus spiral ligament

Cross-section of the
cochlear duct
Inner ear fluids
 perilymph – between bony and membraneous labrynth
 Endolymph fills the entire membraneous labrynth

perilymph endolymph
Resembles ECF Resembles ICF
Rich in sodium ions Rich in pottasium ions
The terminal part of the endolymphatic duct is dilated and
forms endolymphatic sac , which is situated between two
layers of dura on the posterior surface of petrous bone.
Organ Of Corti
 The end organ of hearing
 Inner pillar cells - broad base, resting on the basilar membrane,
slender and conical, nucleus is basal.
 Inner tunnel - wide triangular intercellular space continuous thru
cochlear length. Bounded above converging inner and outer pillar
cells,
 Outer pillar cells -longer and more oblique, leaning to the inner
pillars.with broad thin base.
 Deiters cells -the supporting cells for the 3 -4 rows of outer hair
cells. Base is columnar with cup shaped upper end. The apex does
not reach the free surface of the organ of Corti.
 Inner phalangeal cells - arranged in a row on the inner side of the
inner pillar cells. Contiguous with slender Border cells marking the
inner boundary of the organ of corti. Lining epithelium is low cuboidal
or squamous cells.
 Cells of Hensen - delimit the outer border of the organ of Corti
arrange in rows decreasing in height continuous with the cells of
Claudius.
 2 types of hair cells in cochlea:
A. inner hair cells - like type 1 hair cells, single row along the entire
length of the cochlea.
B. Outer hair cells - 3 rows between pillar cells and outer phalangeal
cells
 Two types of cells in the organ of Corti are support cells
and hair cells.
 The hair cells are the “receptor” cells-- the ones that
transduce sound.
 Support cells such as the Deiter’s cells support hair cells.
 The tops of the hair cells and pillar cells form the reticular
lamina, which isolates the hair cells’ stereocilia from their
cell bodies. The tectorial membrane is loosely coupled to
the reticular lamina.
 There are 4 rows of hair cells,
 One row on the inner (modiolar) side of the tunnel formed by
the pillar cells-- these are the inner hair cells
 3 row on the outer side of the Tunnel of Corti, these are the
outer hair cells.
 Deiter’s cells support the Outer hair cells at their base, but
A closer look at the organ of Corti
Reticular lamina
Deiter’s cells
Arrangement of hair cells
Stereocilia
Arrangement of stereocilia
 Cochlea
 The cochlea contains an array of highly
specialized cells arranged in a highly specialized
manner.
 There are structural differences between IHCs
and OHCs that suggest that they differ in function
 The cochlea not only sends a message to the
brain, but it may also receive messages from the
brain via efferent innervation.
Innervation of the organ of Corti

Nerve fibers
 The spiral ganglion
The cell bodies of the neurons
that form the auditory nerve are
located within the cochlear
modiolus. The collection of cell
bodies is called the spiral
ganglion.
 Pattern of afferent innervation
•Different types of
nerve fibers
innervate IHCs and
OHCs.
•Type I fibers
innervate IHCs
• Type II neurons
innervate OHCs.
 Pattern of afferent innervation
•Nearly all of the nerve fibers
that carry messages from the
ear to the brain innervate inner
hair cells.
• Each IHC has its own “private”
set of fibers.
•The Type II nerve fibers
innervate many OHCs. and the
OHCs they innervate are basal
to the point at which the nerve
fiber enters the cochlea.
Thin fibers
attach toward
modiolar side,
thick fibers
toward outer
side of IHC.
Pattern of efferent innervation
 Neurons from the brainstem also contact hair
cells.
 These neurons carry information from the brain to
the ear and are called efferent neurons.
 The vast majority of efferents innervate OHCs,
and the contacts on OHCs differ from those on
IHCs.
 Efferents form large calyx-shaped contacts on the
OHC cell body; efferents form small bouton-like
contacts on the afferent nerve fibers that contact
IHCs.
Pattern of efferent innervation
Blood supply of labrynth
 Mainly by internal auditory artery (branch of Ant. Inf.
Cerebellar Aartery <branch of basilar artery)
 Internal auditory artery divides into
1. Anterior vestibular artery
 Supplies utricle ,superior & lateral SCC
2. Common cochlear artery
 Main cochlear artery(80%)-supplies cochlea
 Vestibulocochlear artery
1. Post vestibular artery-supplies saccule & post SCC
2. Cochlear branch –supplies to cochlea
Blood supply of labrynth
Venous drainage
 Internal auditory vein Drain into inferior
 Vein of cochlear aquaduct petrosal and
sigmoid sinuses
 Vein of vestibular aquaduct
Internal auditory canal
 About 1 cm long
 Passes into petrous part of temporal bone in a lateral
direction
 Lined by dura
Internal auditory canal
 At its lateral end (fundus) IAC is
closed by a vertical cribriform
plate of bone that seperates it
from labrynth
 A transverse crest divides this
plate into smaller upper and
larger lower part
 Upper part is again divided into
ant & post part by a vertical
crest called BILL’S BAR.
IAC - Contents
 Vestibulocochlear Nerve
 Facial nerve including nervus intermedius
 Internal auditory artery and vein
Development of inner ear
 Initially membraneous labrynth , followed by
encasement by bony labrynth.
 Starts within first few days( 22- 23 days)
Ectodermal thickening in hind brain

Otic placode

Otic pit

Membraneous labrynth
Oticyst (by 25 th week of GA)
Development of inner ear
Development of inner ear
 BONY LABRYNTH
 Mesenchyme enclosing the otocyst becomes
chondrified to form otic capsule

Ossification begins in around 16 th week

 Certain channels remain within otic capsule like

oval window where part of the otic capsule becomes
the stapes footplate and the annular ligament.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Inner Ear Disorders: Prenatal Causes
 Genetic mutation/inheritance
 Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
 Rubella
 Rh incompatibility
Mondini Aplasia
 AD
 Most common cochlear abnormality
 Progressive or fluctuating HL
  risk of perilymphatic gusher and meningitis
from dilated cochlear aqueduct
 Dx: CT reveals single turned cochlea, no
interscalar septum
 Tx: HA, cochlear implant
Sources of efferent cochlear
innervation
Age Effects
Noise Damage
 Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS)
 Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS)

 Duration, Timing and Intensity influence

 Typical “Noise Notch” often seen between
____________ first.
 Notch widens and deepens over time, with
hearing loss spreading to adjacent frequencies,
and increasing in degree.
Inner Ear Disorders
 Noise induced
 Miniers disease
 ototoxicity
Types of Hair cells
 Type 1 Hair cells = flask
shaped cells with a rounded
base, narrow neck.
 Nucleus is basal, surrounded
by mitochondria.
 With supranuclear Golgi
complex, occasional cisternae
of RER & small vesicles.
 With 50-100 sterocilia on free
surface. Tallest hair is 10um
near kinocilium & shortest is
1um on the opposite side.
 Each kinocilium is limited by
plasma membrane & with
several bundles of Actin
filaments spaced 10 nm apart &
crosslinked by Fimbrin minute
proteins.
 Nerves penetrate between
Supporting cells.
 Type ll Hair cells = more
columnar, kinocilium, sterocilia,
cytoplasmic roganelles are
similar to type 1.
 Golgi complex is larger, small
vesicles found in great
numbers in cytoplasm.
 The base do not form a calyx
but end in small terminal
boutons.
 Synaptic ribbons are found in
the peripheral cytoplasm
opposite the plasmalemma of
terminal boutons.
 Some endings contain clear
synaptic vesicles (non
granulated vesicles) carry
afferent nerves info to brain.
 Others end as dense
(granulated vesicles) carry
efferent nerve impulses
modulating the sensitivity of
 Hair cells
type 1 type ll
Perilymphatic labyrinth
 The space surrounding the membranous labyrinth.
 Includes the narrow space between the utricle and
saccule.
 Contains cells, fibers and perilymph fluid rich in K+ and
low in Na+.
 Nerves of the Labyrinth.= Vestibular and Cochlear
nerves.
 Internal auditory meatus of the Temporal bone = where
Cell bodies of the afferent fibers are bipolar cells found in
the spiral ganglion (Cochlear ganglion) in the Modiolus
and Vestibular ganglion
( Scarpa’s ganglion).
 Endolymph Perilymph CSF

Na+ 5 140 152

K+ 144 10 4

Protien 126 200-400 20-50

Glucose 10-40 85 70
Blood vessels = labyrinthine artery from the inferior cerebellar artery 
vestibular artery common cochlear artery  vestibulochlear
artery ( utricle / saccule) cochlear artery proper  spiral
modiolar artery.
Venous drainage
 A. spiral prominence to periostium of scala tympani to spiral
vein.
 B. small vein of spiral lamina to plexus in modiolus into the
internal auditory vein or cochlear aqueduct to jugular veins.
 C. vestibular veins into vestibular and cochlear aqueducts.

True lymphatics is absent in the labyrinth. Fluid drain into

perilymphatic space to subarachnoid space, to the perivascular
and perineural connective tissue sheath
Vestibular receptors