Ear Anatomy

Question 1

Name the part of the ear that collects sound waves and funnels them into the external acoustic meatus.

Answer 1

Pinna (auricle)

Question 2

Name cranial nerve VII.

Answer 2

Facial nerve

Question 3

Name the artery that lies anterior to the tragus.

Answer 3

Superficial temporal artery

Question 4

What is the main function of the tympanic cavity?

Answer 4

Conducts sound waves in the air towards the fluid-filled cavities of the inner ear.

Question 5

What is the role of the tensor tympani muscle?

Answer 5

Dampens sound by reducing vibrations of the tympanic membrane.

Question 6

Which cranial nerve innervates the tensor tympani muscle?

Answer 6

CN V3

Question 7

What does the stapedius muscle do?

Answer 7

Dampens sound by reducing vibrations of stapes on oval window.

Question 8

Which cranial nerve innervates the stapedius muscle?

Answer 8

CN VII

Question 9

Which muscles help to equalise pressure in the ear?

Answer 9

Palate muscles

Question 10

Which cranial nerve supplies the otitis media?

Answer 10

CN IX

Question 11

What can cause osteomyelitis in the ear?

Answer 11

Infection or inflammation of the mastoid

Question 12

What is the bony labyrinth filled with?

Answer 12

Peri lymph

Similar to extracellular fluid

Question 13

What is the membranous labyrinth filled with?

Answer 13

Endo lymph

Similar to intracellular fluid

Question 14

Where is the organ of Corti located?

Answer 14

On the basilar membrane of the cochlear duct

Question 15

Name the two parts that the cochlear canal is divided into.

Answer 15

Scala vestibuli

Scala tympani

Question 16

What do the utricle and saccule detect?

Answer 16

Linear movement change
Utricle (horizontal)
Saccule (vertical)

Question 17

Name CN VIII

Answer 17

Vestibulocochlear nerve

Question 18

Where does the labyrinthine artery branch from?

Answer 18

The anterior inferior cerebellar artery

Question 19

What are some symptoms of facial nerve dysfunction?

Answer 19

Dry eyes 
Dry mucosa 
Lack of taste anterior 2/3rds of the tongue 
Dry mouth 
Facial paralysis

Question 20

Which cranial nerve supplies the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue?

Answer 20

CN IX

Question 21

Which cranial nerve supplies the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue?

Answer 21

CN V3 and CN VII

Question 22

What are causes of reffered otalgia from the facial nerve (CN VII)?

Answer 22

Geniculate herpes

Ramsay Hunt syndrome linked to facial palsy

Nasal pathology including foreign bodies

Sphenoid or ethmoid sinus pathology

Question 23

What are causes of reffered otalgia from the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)?

Answer 23

Tonsillitis or quinsy

Post-tonsilectomy

Carcinoma at the base (posterior 1/3) of the tongue

Neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 24

What are causes of referred otalgia from the vagus nerve (CN X)?

Answer 24

Foreign body in piriform fossa

Carcinoma or the piriform fossa

Carcinoma of the larynx

Post-cricoid carcinoma

Sepsis - piriform abscess