Anatomy of Ear Flashcards
what is the functions of the ear
- hearing + balance –> vestibulocochlear organ
- hearing –> transformation of mechanical sound waves into nerve impulses
- balance –> changes in fluid levels within inner ear
what are the two parts of the external ear
- auricle or pinna (“ear”)
- external acoustic meatus (canal connecting base of auricle to tympanic membrane)
what is the shape of the auricle or pinna
funnel shaped –> wide distally and narrows to connection with external acoustic meatus
what is the shape of the auricle determined by
auricular cartilage –> variable stiffness
rolls to form cone shape
also annular cartilage at base of auricular cartilage (anchors auricle to skull)
name the structures of the external ear
where do the vessels of the external ear run
run on convex (outer) surface
branch from caudal auricular artery (from external carotid)
where does the external ear canal run
from “closure” of auricular cartilage to ear drum
vertical and horizontal parts (hockey stick shape)
curves ventrally then rostromedially (difficult to examine with otoscope)
what is the external ear canal lined with
skin
sebaceous and tubular ceruminous glands (secrete wax)
name the structures shown of the external ear canal
what are the 4 components of the middle ear
- tympanic cavity (contains but often referred to as tympanic bulla)
- tympanic membrane
- auditory ossicles
- auditory tube (aka eustacian tube)
where does the tympanic cavity lie
within temporal bone (lateral to petrous temporal bone)
what is the tympanic cavity
air filled
thin mucus membrane lining (drain secretions so it doesn’t fill with fluid)
how can the tympanic cavity be divided
dorsal and ventral parts
dorsal - epitympanic recess
ventral = tympanic bulla
two windows dorsomedially –> dorsal = vestibular and ventral = cochlear
name the structures of the tympanic cavity
what does the tympanic membrane divide
external acoustic meatus from middle ear
what are the surfaces of the tympanic membrane called
epidermal (outer) and mucosal (inner) covering
what does the tympanic membrane attach to
fibrous attatchment to typmanic ring of temporal bone
medial surface attachted to ossicles
what is the order of the auditory ossicles from lateral to medial
malleus (hammer)
incus (anvil)
stapes (stirrup)
what is attached to the eardrum
handle/manubrium of malleus
how do articulations of the auditory ossicles occur
malleus-incus-stapes