The anatomy of the ear can be a little confusing, especially since the ear is responsible not only for hearing, but also for balance. Show There are three components to the ear: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. All three are involved in hearing but only the inner ear is responsible for balance. The outer ear is composed of the pinna, or ear lobe, and the external auditory canal. Both structures funnel sound waves towards the ear drum or tympanic membrane allowing it to vibrate. The pinna is also responsible for protecting the ear drum from damage. Modified sweat glands in the ear canal form ear wax. The middle ear is an air filled space located in the temporal bone of the skull. Air pressure is equalized in this space via the Eustachian tube which drains into the nasopharynx or the back of the throat and nose. There are three small bones, or ossicles, that are located adjacent to the tympanic membrane. The malleus, incus, and stapes are attached like a chain to the tympanic membrane and convert sound waves that vibrate the membrane into mechanical vibrations of the three bones. The stapes fills the oval window which is the connection to the inner ear. The inner has two functions; the first is hearing and the second is balance. It is a warren of tubes filled with fluid encased within the temporal bone of the skull. The bony tubes also contain a set of cell membrane lined tubes. The bony tubes are called the bony labyrinth filled with perilymph fluid, which the membranous labyrinth tubes are filed with endolymph. This is where the cells responsible for hearing are located (the hairy cells of Corti). The bony labyrinth itself has three sections. 1) The cochlea is responsible for hearing, 2) the semicircular canals have function associated with balance, and 3) the vestibule which connects the two and contains two more balance and equilibrium related structures, the saccule and utricle. The final structures of the inner ear are the round window and the eighth cranial nerve (cranial nerve VIII) which is composed of the vestibular nerve (balance) and the cochlear (hearing) nerve.
Diagram of outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer ear is labeled in the figure and includes the ear canal. The middle ear includes the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and three tiny bones for hearing. The bones are called the hammer (malleus), anvil (incus), and stirrup (stapes) to reflect their shapes. The middle ear connects to the back of the throat by the Eustachian tube. The inner ear (labyrinth) contains the semicircular canals and vestibule for balance, and the cochlea for hearing. Hearing
We hear by funneling sound from the environment into the outer ear and causing the tympanic membrane to vibrate. Those sound waves vibrations are transferred into mechanical vibrations of the ossicles. Those mechanical vibrations cause the oval window to move back and forth causing the perilymph of the inner ear to begin wave-like motions. The perilymph fluid motion is transferred to the endolymph and the wave motion is transformed into electrical impulses picked up by the hairy cells of Corti and sent to the brain via the cochlear nerve. The round window is responsible for absorbing the fluid wave vibrations and releasing any increased pressure in the inner ear caused by the wave motion. BalanceBalance is a choreographed arrangement that takes sensory information from a variety of organs and integrates it to tell the body where it is in related to gravity and the earth. Information from the vestibular system of the inner ear (semicircular canals, the saccule and the utricle) is sent to the brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Potential balance abnormalities do not require conscious input from the cerebrum of the brain. Abnormal vestibular signals cause the body to try to compensate by making adjustments in posture of the trunk and limbs as well as making changes in eye movement to adjust sight input into the brain. There are three semicircular canals in the inner ear positioned at right angles to each other like a gyroscope. They are able to sense changes in movement of the body. With such changes, endolymph waves within the canals cause hair cells located within their base to move. Position of the head is sensed by hair cells of the utricle and saccule which is stimulated when the head moves and the relationship to gravity changes. There is a small dense area of nerve fibers called the macule located in each of the saccule and utricle. The macule of the saccule is oriented vertically while the utricle macule is horizontal. Each macule consists of fine hair bundles which are covered by an otolithic membrane that is jelly-like and covered by a blanket of calcium crystals. The calcium crystals are the structures that ultimately stimulate the position hairs and provoke nerve impulses created by the position changes and transmit that information to the brain stem and cerebellum. Abnormalities of the vestibular system may cause: Some examples of common diseases and conditions involving the ear include: See Slideshow
Our ear and hearing is made up of many parts. Hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear or auditory (hearing) system is not working in the usual way. Outer EarThe outer ear is made up of three parts;
Middle EarThe middle ear is made up of the eardrum and three small bones (ossicles) that send the movement of the eardrum to the inner ear. Inner EarThe inner ear is made up of:
The ear (auditory) NerveThe hearing (auditory) System pathway in the brain
Our hearing system has many working parts. The outer ear collects the sounds which vibrate the eardrum in the middle ear. The inner ear gets these vibrations and sends them to the auditory nerve. These impulses go to our brain, which translates them into what we hear.
Hearing refers to the awareness of the presence of sounds and placing meaning to that sound. It begins as vibrations that travel through your ear (outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear) through your nerves to your brain – where you hear. What are the parts of our hearing system?The hearing system (auditory system) consists of many different parts and sections. Successful hearing requires all of these parts and sections to function properly.
What conditions can impact our ability to hear?Many conditions, illnesses and diseases can cause a problem with hearing. Most of these conditions can be treated or managed by healthcare providers. Here are a few examples of conditions that affect your hearing:
When should I call a hearing care specialist?Call or visit a healthcare provider for immediate medical treatment if you experience sudden hearing loss, even if it’s only in one ear. The treatment for your hearing loss may not be effective if you delay treatment. Hearing care specialists are different from your primary care physician. They include:
Schedule an appointment to see a hearing care specialist if you are noticing a change in your ability to hear or understand, or if it seems like everyone is mumbling. Hearing loss can occur very gradually so it is good practice to have your hearing tested to obtain a baseline and then on a regular basis. This is especially true if you have a family history of hearing loss. How is my hearing tested?To test your hearing, you’ll be given a test called an audiogram. During this test, your provider plays sounds through headphones. You’ll press a button when you hear a sound. The results measure your ability to hear. Tests take place in your provider’s or audiologist’s office in a soundproof booth. How can I keep my hearing healthy?To protect your hearing, you should:
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/16/2020. References
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