A4 - ear Flashcards
what is the ear divided into?
external, middle and inner ear
what separates the external and middle ear?
tympanic membrane
what joins the middle ear to the nasopharynx?
pharyngotympanic tube
where is much of the ear housed?
in the petrous part of the temporal bone
what does the lobule of the auricle consist of?
fibrous tissue, fat and blood vessels
what is the arterial supply to the auricle derived mainly from?
the posterior auricular and superficial temporal arteries (branches of the external carotid artery?
what is the function of the auricle?
capture and direct sound waves towards the external auditory meatus
what is the only part of the auricle not supported by cartilage?
lobule
what divides the 2 crura of the auricle?
the anti helix
what forms the skeleton of the external ear?
elastic cartilage
describe the external auditory meatus
= a sigmoid shaped tube that extends from the deep part of the concha to the tympanic membrane
- the walls of the external 1/3 are formed by cartilage, whereas the inner 2/3 are formed by the temporal bone
- the ceruminous and sebaceous glands in the subcutaneous tissue of the cartilaginous part of the meatus produce cerumen (earwax)
describe the tympanic membrane
- lies at the distal end of the external acoustic meatus
- it is a connective tissue structure, covered with skin on the outside and a mucous membrane on the inside
- the membrane is connected to the surrounding temporal bone by a fibrocartilaginous ring
what attaches to the inner surface of the membrane at a point called the umbo of the tympanic membrane?
the handle of malleus
describe the tympanic membrane superior to the lateral process of the malleus
the membrane is thin and is called the pars flaccida — lacks the radial and circular fibres present in the remainder of the membrane (pars tensa)
what does the pars tensa of the tympanic membrane form?
the lateral walls of the superior recess of the tympanic cavity
the parts of the tympanic membrane moving away from the lateral process are called the what?
the anterior and posterior malleolar folds
label the tympanic membrane
what innervates the skin of the auricle?
greater auricular nerve (branch of cervical plexus) and the lesser occipital nerve (branch of cervical plexus)
what innervates the skin of the auricle and the external auditory meatus?
auriculotemporal nerve
what is the auriculotemporal nerve a branch of?
mandibular division of CN V
what innervates the deeper aspect of the auricle and external auditory meatus?
branches of facial and vagus nerves
what 2 nerves provide sensory innervation to the external ear?
greater auricular (C2,3) and auriculotemporal (branch of V3) nerves
coughing when cleaning the ears is due to stimulation of what?
the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (vagus nerve responsible for cough reflex)
lymphatics of external ear
superficial parotid, mastoid, upper deep cervical and superficial cervical nodes
what are the 2 parts of the middle ear? describe them
- tympanic cavity — located medially to the tympanic membrane. contains the ossicles. they transmit sound vibrations through the middle ear
- epitympanic recess — a small space superior to the tympanic cavity, which lies next to the mastoid air cells. the malleus and incus partially extend upwards into the epitympanic recess
what 2 things is the tympanic cavity connected to? how?
- nasopharynx by pharyngotympanic tube
- mastoid cells by mastoid antrum
what is the tympanic cavity lined with?
mucous membrane that is continuous with the lining of the phayngotympoanic tube, mastoid cells and mastoid antrum
what are the contents of the middle ear?
- auditory ossicles
- stapedius and tensor tympani muscles
- chorda tympani nerve, a branch of CN VII
- tympanic plexus of nerves
what forms the roof of the middle ear?
a thin bone from the petrous part of the temporal bone called tegmen tympani
what does the roof of the middle ear separate the middle ear from?
the middle cranial fossa
describe the floor of the middle ear
known as the jugular wall, it consist of a thin layer of bone, which separates the middle ear from the IVJ
describe the lateral wall of the middle ear
made up of the tympanic membrane and the lateral wall of the epitympanic recess
describe the medial wall of the middle ear. what does it contain?
- formed by the lateral wall of the internal ear
- it contains a prominent bulge, produced by the facial nerve as it travels nearby
describe the anterior wall of the middle ear
a thin bony plate with 2 openings; for the auditory tube and the tensor tympani muscle
what does the anterior wall separate the middle ear from?
the internal carotid artery
describe the posterior wall of the middle ear
- aka mastoid wall
- it consists of a bony partition between the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells
- superiorly, there is a hole in this partition, allowing the two areas to communicate. This hole is known as the aditus to the mastoid antrum.
- posterior wall provides the attachment of the stapedius muscle and opens into mastoid antrum
what do the ossicles link?
the tympanic membrane to the oval window of the internal ear
describe the malleus
- largest and most lateral. attaches to tympanic membrane via the handle of malleus
- head of the malleus lies in the epitympanic recess, where it articulates with the next auditory ossicle, the incus
describe the incus
consists of a body and 2 limbs. body articulates with malleus, the short limb attaches to the posterior wall of the middle ear, and the long limb joins the last of the ossicles via the lenticular process, the stapes
describe the stapes
the smallest bone in the body. it joins the incus to the oval window of the inner ear. it is stirrup-shaped, with a head, 2 limbs and a base. the head articulates with the incus and the base joins the oval window
label
describe the mastoid air cells — where are they, how are they connected to the middle ear, function
- located posterior to epitympanic recess
- they are a collection of air-filled spaces in the mastoid process of the temporal bone
- the air cells are contained within a cavity called the mastoid antrum
- the mastoid antrum communicates with the middle ear via the aditus to mastoid antrum
- they act as a buffer system of air — releasing air into the tympanic cavity when the pressure is too low
what are the 2 muscles of the middle ear?
tensor tympani and stapedius