Clinical Anatomy of the Ear Flashcards
what are the 3 anatomical divisions of the ear?
external ear
middle ear
inner ear
what are the 2 functional divisions of the ear?
hearing (auditory system)
balance (vestibular system)
all divisions of the ear are found in what bone?
temporal
what is contained within the temporal bone?
organs of hearing and balance (special sensory)
facial (CN VII) and vestibulocochlear (CN VIII) nerves
what is the pterion?
H shaped suture between frontal, parietal, temporal and sphenoid bone
thinnest part of skull
what is the stylomastoid foramen?
foramen between the styloid process and mastoid process of temporal bone
allows passage of facial nerve from the facial canal
what cranial nerves exit the cranial cavity in each cranial fossa?
anterior = CN 1 middle = CN 2-6 posterior = CN 7-12
internal acoustic meatus is found in which cranial fossa?
posterior
what 3 structures pass through the internal acoustic meatus?
CN VII (facial) CN VIII (vastibulocohlear) labyrinth artery + vein
what does the facial nerve do?
motor to face motor to stapedius taste to anterior 2/3rds of the tongue secretomotor to salivary glands and lacrimal gland general sensation to external ear
what does CN VIII do?
balance
hearing
what is the labyrinth artery + vein?
branch of anterior inferior cerebellar artery from circle of willis
what does the external ear do?
auricle to tympanic membrane via external acoustic meatus
collects and conveys sound waves to tympanic membrane
what does the middle ear do?
tympanic membrane to oval window and eustachian tube
amplifies and conducts sound waves to the internal ear
what does the internal ear do?
oval window to internal acoustic meatus
converts special sensory information into fluid waves, then APs
then conducts APs to the brain
what is the eustachian tube?
AKA auditory tube
canal that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, which consists of the upper throat and the back of the nasal cavity. It controls the pressure within the middle ear, making it equal with the air pressure outside the body
describe the skeleton of the external ear?
composed of temporal bone and elastic cartilage
avascular
nutrients from the skin
describe the features of the ear canal
begins at the external acoustic meatus
composed of 1/3rd cartilage, 2/3rds bone
lined with skin
produces earwax via ceruminous glands
what are the areas of the auricle?
helix anti-helix concha tragus anti-tragus ear lobe
describe sensory innervation of the external surface of the tympanic membrane
CN X (vagus) CN V3 (mostly)
what nerves supply the external acoustic meatus (auricle?)
CN V3 = upper anterior ear
CN VII and vagus = middle of ear
spinal nerve C2,3 = rest of ear
describe lymphatic drainage of the auricle
lateral surface of superior half = parotid lymph nodes
cranial surface of superior half = mastoid nodes and deep cervical
rest of auricle = superficial cervical nodes
all eventually drain to deep cervical lymph nodes in carotid sheath
then thoracic duct or right lymphatic duct at venous angles