The Internal Ear

“Labyrinth”

-Dexter Sayin Ansit

Labyrinth
 situated in the petrous part of the temporal bone, medial to the
middle
Consists:
Bony Labyrinth
 comprising a series of cavities within the bone, and the
Membranous Labyrinth
 comprising a series of membranous sacs and ducts contained within the bony
labyrinth.
Bony Labyrinth
 Bony Labyrinth

3 parts:
 vestibule
 semicircular canals
 cochlea

are cavities situated in the substance

of dense bone.

they are lined by endosteum and

contain a clear fluid, called
perilymph (in which is suspended the
membranous labyrinth)
 The Vestibule
 central part of the bony labyrinth
 lies posterior to the cochlea and anterior to the semicircular
canals.

Lateral walls:
Fenestra Vestibuli
 which is closed by the base of the stapes and its anular ligament
Fenestra Cochleae
 which is closed by the secondary tympanic membrane.
Saccule & Utricle
 lodged within the vestibule of the membranous labyrinth (Fig. 11.30).
 Semicircular canals,
Superior, Posterior & Lateral
 open into the posterior part of the vestibule

 each canal has ampulla (a swelling at one end)

 canals open into the vestibule by five orifices, one of which is

common to two of the canals

 Semicircular ducts (lodged within the canals are the (Fig. 11.30).
 Superior Semicircular Canal
 vertical and placed at right angles to the long axis of the
petrous bone.

 Posterior Canal
 vertical but is placed parallel with the long axis of the
petrous bone.

 Lateral Canal
 is set in a horizontal position, and it lies in the medial wall
of the aditus to the mastoid antrum, above the facial nerve
canal.
Cochlea
 resembles a snail shell.
 It opens into the anterior part of the vestibule
 Basically, consists of a
 central pillar
 Modiolus
 2 ½ spiral turns (makes a hollow bony tube around)

 Each successive turn is of decreasing radius so that the whole structure is

conical.

Apex faces anterolaterally

Base faces posteromedially.

 1st basal turn

 responsible for the promontory seen on the medial wall of the middle ear
Modiolus
 has a broad base: situated at the bottom of the internal acoustic meatus.
 perforated by branches of the cochlear nerve.

Spiral Lamina
 Aka spiral ledge
 winds around the modiolus and projects into the interior of the canal and
partially divides it.

Basilar Membrane
 stretches from the free edge of the spiral lamina to the outer bony wall, thus
dividing the cochlear canal into the scala vestibuli above and the scala
tympani below.

Perilymph
 within the scala vestibuli
 separated from the middle ear by the base of the stapes and the anular
ligament at the fenestra vestibuli.
 in the scala tympani is separated from the middle ear by the secondary
tympanic membrane at the fenestra cochleae.
Membranous Labyrinth
Membranous Labyrinth
 lodged within the bony labyrinth (Fig. 11.30).
 filled with endolymph and surrounded by perilymph.

 consists: utricle & saccule

 lodged in the bony vestibule

 3 Semicircular ducts
 lie within the bony semicircular canals

 Duct of the cochlea

 lies within the bony cochlea.

All these structures freely communicate with one another.

Utricle
 the larger of the two vestibular sacs
 indirectly connected to the saccule and the
ductus endolymphaticus by the ductus
utriculosaccularis.

Saccule
 globular
 connected to the utricle
 Ductus Endolymphaticus
(after being joined by Ductus Utriculosaccularis)

passes on to

Saccus Endolymphaticus
 end in a small blind pouch, the
 this lies beneath the dura on the posterior surface of the
petrous part of the temporal bone.
Specialized Sensory Receptors
 located on the walls of the utricle and saccule
 are sensitive to the orientation of the head to
gravity or other acceleration forces.

Semicircular ducts
 much smaller diameter than the semicircular
canals, have the same configuration.
 are arranged at right angles to each other so that
all three planes are represented.
 changes its speed of movement relative to that of
the walls of the semicircular ducts.
Duct of the cochlea
 is triangular in cross section

 is connected to the saccule by the ductus reuniens.

The highly specialized epithelium that lies on the

basilar membrane forms the spiral organ of Corti and
contains the sensory receptors for hearing.
Nerves
Vestibulocochlear Nerve
 On reaching the bottom of the internal acoustic meatus the
nerve divides into vestibular and cochlear portions.
Vestibular Nerve
 is expanded to form the vestibular ganglion.
 branches of the nerve then pierce the lateral end of
the internal acoustic meatus
 gain entrance to the membranous labyrinth, where
they supply the utricle, the saccule, and the
ampullae of the semicircular ducts.
 Cochlear nerve
 divides into branches
 enter foramina at the base of the modiolus.

 sensory ganglion of this nerve

 takes the form of an elongated spiral ganglion
(lodged in a canal winding around the modiolus in
the base of the spiral lamina)

 peripheral branches of this nerve

 pass from the ganglion to the spiral organ of Corti.
Diseases & Conditions
Otitis Media
• Inflammation of the middle ear
• Possibly caused by bacteria or virus
• Possibly acute or chronic

• Accumulation of fluid within the middle ear

• Common disorder among infants and young children
because of their short eustachian tube, which provides
a pathway for bacteria to enter from the nasopharynx
Otitis Media
Signs and symptoms
• Earache (most common)
• Bulging and reddening of eardrum
• Presence of pyogenic microorganisms (in suppurative otitis
media)
Otitis Media
Treatment
• Antibiotics to treat infection
• Analgesics to relieve pain
• Myringotomy or needle aspiration in severe cases to drain
built-up fluid
• Surgery, such as myringoplasty, to repair a ruptured
tympanic membrane (eardrum)
• Surgical insertion of pressure-equalizing (PE) tubes in the
tympanic membrane to equalize pressure between the
atmosphere and the middle ear
Hearing Loss
• Impairment or inability to apprehend sound
• Temporary or permanent
• Types
• Sensorineural
• Failureof inner ear nerves to transmit sound impulses properly
to the brain
• Causes
• Old age (presbycusis)
• Noise damage
• Medications (ototoxic)
Hearing Loss
Types
Conductive
• Obstructions in outer or middle ear
• Causes
• Otitis
• Perforation of eardrum
• Otosclerosis
Hearing Loss (continued)
• Signs and symptoms
• Inability
to hear clearly
• Frequent requests for repetition
• Avoidance of social situations
Hearing Loss
Treatment
• Varied with type and cause of impairment
• Possibly medication to treat infections and dissolve
cerumen
• Stapedectomy, tympanoplasty, cochlear implant, or
myringotomy
• Hearing aid or other means of assisting in communication
 Inner Ear
and
Nerve Supply
Internal Ear (Labyrinth)
 The inner ear is located within the petrous part of the temporal bone.
It lies between the middle ear and the internal acoustic meatus,
which lie laterally and medially respectively. The inner ear has two
main components – the bony labyrinth and membranous labyrinth.

 Bony labyrinth – consists of a series of bony cavities within the petrous

part of the temporal bone. It is comprised of the cochlea, vestibule
and three semicircular canals. All these structures are lined internally
with periosteum and contain a fluid called perilymph.

 Membranous labyrinth – lies within the the bony labyrinth. It consists

of the cochlear duct, semicircular ducts, utricle and the saccule. The
membranous labyrinth is filled with fluid called endolymph.

 The inner ear has two openings into the middle ear, both covered by
membranes. The oval window lies between the middle ear and the
vestibule, whilst the round window separates the middle ear from the
scala tympani (part of the cochlear duct).
 Bony Labyrinth
 The bony labyrinth is a series of bony cavities within the
petrous part of the temporal bone. It consists of three parts –
the cochlea, vestibule and the three semicircular canals.
Vestibule
 The vestibule is the central part of the bony labyrinth. It is
separated from the middle ear by the oval window,
and communicates anteriorly with the cochlea and posterioly
with the semicircular canals. Two parts of the membranous
labyrinth; the saccule and utricle, are located within the
vestibule.
Semicircular Canals
 There are three semicircular canals; anterior, lateral and
posterior. They contain thesemicircular ducts, which are
responsible for balance (along with the utricle and saccule).
 The canals are situated superoposterior to the vestibule, at
right angles to each other. They have a swelling at one end,
known as the ampulla.
Cochlea
 The cochlea houses the cochlea duct of the
membranous labyrinth – the auditory part of the
inner ear. It twists upon itself around a central
portion of bone called the modiolus, producing a
cone shape which points in
an anterolateral direction. Branches from the
cochlear portion of the vestibulocochlear (VIII)
nerve are found at the base of the modiolus.
 Extending outwards from the modiolus is a ledge
of bone known as spiral lamina, which attaches to
the cochlear duct, holding it in position. The
presence of the cochlear duct creates two
perilymph-filled chambers above and below:
 Scala vestibuli: Located superiorly to the cochlear
duct. As its name suggests, it is continuous with the
vestibule.
 Scala tympani: Located inferiorly to the cochlear
duct. It terminates at the round window.
 Membranous Labyrinth
 The membranous labyrinth is a continuous system of
ducts filled with endolymph. It lies within the bony
labyrinth, surrounded by perilymph. It is comprised
of the cochlear duct, three semicircular ducts,
saccule and the utricle.
 The cochlear duct is situated within the cochlea
and is the organ of hearing. The semicircular ducts,
saccule and utricle are the organs of balance (also
known as the vesicular apparatus).
 Cochlear Duct
 The cochlear duct is located within the bony
scaffolding of the cochlea. It is held in place by
the spiral lamina. The presence of the duct
creates two canals above and below it –
the scala vestibuli and scala
tympani respectively. The cochlear duct can be
described as having a triangular shape:
 Lateral wall – Formed by thickened periosteum,
known as the spiral ligament.
 Roof – Formed by a membrane which separates
the cochlear duct from the scala vestibuli, known
as the Reissner’s membrane.
 Floor – Formed by a membrane which separates
the cochlear duct from the scala tympani, known
as the basilar membrane.
 The basilar membrane houses the epithelial cells
of hearing – the Organ of Corti.
 Saccule and Utricle
 The saccule and utricle are two membranous sacs located in
the vestibule. The utricle is the larger of the two, receiving the
three semicircular ducts. The saccule is globular in shape and
receives the cochlear duct.
 Endolymph drains from the saccule and utricle into
the endolymphatic duct. The duct travels through
the vestibular aqueduct to the posterior aspect of the petrous
part of the temporal bone. Here, the duct expands to a sac
where endolymph can be secreted and absorbed.
 Semicircular Ducts
 The semicircular ducts are located within the semicircular
canals, and share their orientation. Upon movement of the
head, the flow of endolymph within the ducts changes speed
and/or direction. Sensory receptors in the ampullae of the
semicircular canals detect this change, and send signals to
the brain, allowing for the processing of balance.
 Innervation

 The inner ear is innervated by the vestibulocochlear nerve

(CN VIII). It enters the inner ear via the internal acoustic
meatus, where it divides into the vestibular
nerve (responsible for balance) and the cochlear
nerve (responsible for hearing):
 Vestibular nerve – enlarges to form the vestibular ganglion,
which then splits into superior and inferior parts to supply
the utricle, saccule and three semicircular duct.
 Cochlear nerve – enters at the base of the modiolus and its
branches pass through the lamina to supply the receptors
of the Organ of Corti.
 The facial nerve, CN VII, also passes through the inner ear,
but does not innervate any of the structures present.