Ear Flashcards
External ear: auricle (fxn, struture, blood supply, innervation, lymphatic drainage)
(pinna)
1. Function: collect airwaves and funnel them into external acoustic meatus.
2. Structure
a. Cartilages (elastic cartilage) – helix, tragus, antihelix
b. Depressions – concha, scaphoid fossa
c. Lobule – composed of fibroelastic tissue
3. Blood supply
a. Posterior auricular a. and v.
b. Superficial temporal a. and v.
4. Innervation
a. Great auricular (C2,C3) and lesser occipital (C2,C3) nn
b. Auriculotemporal nerve (V3), facial n., vagus n.
5. Lymphatic drainage – mastoid, parotid lymph nodes → deep cervical lymph nodes
External ear: external acoustic meatus (defn, histology, blood supply, innervation)
- Canal traveling through tympanic portion of temporal bone to tympanic membrane.
- Lined by stratified squamous epithelium containing numerous ceruminous glands.
- Lateral 1/3 is cartilaginous; medial 2/3 is bony
- Blood supply
a. Posterior auricular a. and v.
b. Superficial temporal a. and v.
c. Deep auricular a - Innervation
a. Auriculotemporal nerve (V3)
b. Vagus n. - Lymphatic drainage – deep cervical lymph nodes.
otitis externa
inflammation of the external ear
External ear: Tympanic membrane
- Function: convert sound waves into vibrations of middle ear ossicles.
- Structure
a. Semitransparent, fibroelastic membrane
b. Separates external and middle ear.
c. Covered by epidermis externally; mucus membrane internally.
d. The membrane is directed anteriorly and inferiorly. - Features
a. Umbo – central concavity of membrane.
b. Pars flaccida – superior, thin-walled portion
c. Pars tensa – inferior, thick-walled portion - Blood supply
a. External surface – deep auricular branch of maxillary artery
b. Internal surface – anterior tympanic branch of maxillary artery - Innervation
a. External surface – auriculotemporal nerve (V3); vagus n.
b. Internal surface – glossopharyngeal nerve
External ear embryology
- Auricle
a. Derived from mesenchyme of first and second pharyngeal arches.
b. 6 auricular hillocks will later fuse to form the definitive auricle.
c. CLINICAL CORRELATION: Defects are common and associated with most chromosomal syndromes. - External Auditory Meatus
a. Derived from first pharyngeal cleft.
b. Meatal plug forms from proliferation of epithelial cells; by 7th month degenerates.
c. CLINICAL CORRELATION: Persistence of meatal plug can cause deafness. - Tympanic Membrane
a. External epithelium derived from ectoderm of first pharyngeal cleft.
b. Middle connective tissue derived from mesoderm of first pharyngeal arch.
c. Internal epithelium derived from endoderm of first pharyngeal pouch
Middle ear defn, function
A. The middle ear contains the tympanic cavity, a mucous membrane-lined space within the petrous portion of the temporal bone, and the auditory ossicles.
B. Function
- Transfer of sound waves from gas to liquid medium (from external to internal ear).
- Amplification of sound waves via vibration of bony ossicles.
- Protective response to loud sounds (via tensor tympani & stapedius mm).
Middle Ear: Tympanic cavity roof and floor
- Roof – tegmen tympani; separates epitympanic recess from middle cranial fossa.
- Floor – segment of temporal bone separating middle ear from internal jugular v.
Middle ear: tympanic cavity medial and lateral walls
- Lateral wall – tympanic membrane.
- Medial wall – bony wall separating middle from internal ear.
a. Promontory – mound of bone created by cochlea.
b. Oval window (fenestra vestibule) - Opens to vestibule of internal ear.
- Contacted by the stapes; transmits motion of stapes to fluid of internal ear.
c. Round window (fenestra cochleae) - Opens to scala tympani; covered with a thin membrane (round window membrane)
- Acts as a pressure release valve for the fluids of the internal ear.
middle ear: tympanic cavity posterior wall
temporal bone
a. Aditus ad antrum – entrance to the mastoid antrum.
b. Facial canal – for passage of facial n.
Clinical correlation: mastoiditis
Middle ear infections can sometimes spread to the mastoid air cells. Infections can then spread superiorly into the middle cranial fossa.
middle ear: tympanic cavity anterior wall
segment of temporal bone separating middle ear from carotid canal. Receives opening for pharyngotympanic tube and semi-canal (passage of tensor tympani).
a. Pharyngotympanic tube (auditory tube; eustachian tube)
1. Cartilaginous and membranous tube connecting middle ear and nasopharynx.
2. Function – balances pressure on external and internal sides of tympanic membrane.
3. Posterolateral third is bony; anteromedial 2/3 is cartilaginous.
4. Tensor veli palatini muscle can open the membranous tube (CN V3
Auditory Ossicles
- Malleus
a. Contacts tympanic membrane; creates umbo.
b. Vibrates in response to movement of the tympanic membrane. - Incus
a. Body articulates with head of malleus.
b. Long limb articulates with stapes. - Stapes
a. Base – contacts oval window.
b. Vibration of stapes induces motion of the fluid within the cochlear duct.
Muscles of the middle ear
- Stapedius
a. Origin – posterior wall of tympanic cavity (pyramidal eminence)
b. Insertion – stapes
c. Function – dampens movements of ossicles
d. Innervation – facial nerve (CN VII; SVE) - Tensor tympani
a. Origin – cartilaginous part of pharyngotympanic tube
b. Insertion – malleus
c. Function – dampens movements of ossicles
d. Innervation – trigeminal nerve (V3; SVE)
clinical correlation: hyperacusis
Paralysis of middle ear muscles can cause hyperacusis (excessive hearing acuteness) due to loss of dampening.
Middle ear: blood supply
- Inferior tympanic a (from ascending pharyngeal a)
- Anterior tympanic a (from maxillary a)
- Posterior tympanic a (from stylomastoid a.)
- Superior tympanic (from middle meningeal a.)
- Artery of pterygoid canal (tubal branches to pharyngotympanic tube).
- Venous drainage to ptergyoid plexus