THE MIDDLE EAR Flashcards
where does the middle ear lie?
within the temporal bone
where does the middle ear extend?
from the tympanic membrane to the lateral wall of the internal ear
what is the main function of the middle ear?
to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear – it does this via the three bones of the ear
what can the middle ear be split into?
the tympanic cavity and epitympanic recess
where does the tympanic cavity lie?
medially to the tympanic membrane
what does the tympanic cavity contain?
majority of the bones of the middle ear
where is the epitympanic recess found?
superiorly, near the mastoid air cells
how can the middle ear be visualised?
as a rectangular box, with a roof and floor, medial and lateral walls and anterior and posterior walls
what forms the roof of the middle ear?
Formed by a thin bone from the petrous part of the temporal bone
what does the roof of the middle ear separate?
It separates the middle ear from the middle cranial fossa
what is the floor of the middle ear known as?
the jugular wall
what does the floor of the middle ear consist of?
a thin layer of bone, which separates the middle ear from the internal jugular vein
what forms the lateral wall of the middle ear?
This is made up of the tympanic membrane and the lateral wall of the epitympanic recess
what forms the medial wall of the middle ear?
Formed by the lateral wall of the internal ear
what does the medial wall of the middle ear contain?
a prominent bulge, produced by the facial nerve as it travels nearby
what forms the anterior wall of the middle ear?
The anterior wall is a thin bony plate with two openings; for the auditory tube and the tensor tympani muscle
what does the anterior wall of the middle ear separate?
separates the middle ear from the internal carotid artery
what is the posterior wall of the middle ear also known as?
the mastoid wall
what does the posterior wall of the middle ear consis of?
a bony partition between the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells
what is present within the bony partition between the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells?
Superiorly, there is a hole in this partition, allowing the two areas to communication
what is the hole superior in the partition between the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells called?
the aditus to the mastoid antrum
what are the bones of the middle ear called?
the auditory ossicles
what are the bones within the middle ear?
the malleus, incus and stapes
how do the bones of the middle ear connect?
connected in a chain-like manner, linking the tympanic membrane to the oval window of the internal ear
which is the largest bone within the middle ear?
The malleus is the largest and most lateral of the ear bones
where does the malleus attach?
to the tympanic membrane, via the handle of malleus
where does the head of the malleus lie?
in the epitympanic recess, where it articulates with the next auditory ossicle, the incus
what is the next bone from the malleus?
the incus, consists of a body and two limbs
what does the body of incus articulate with?
The body articulates with the malleus
what does the short limb of the incus attach to?
the short limb attaches to the posterior wall of the middle
what does the long limb of the incus attach to?
the long limb joins the last of the ossicles; the stapes
which is the smallest bone in the human body?
The stapes is the smallest bone in the human body
what does the stapes join to?
It joins the incus to the oval window of the inner ear
structure of the stapes?
It is stirrup-shaped, with a head, two limbs, and a base
what does the head of stapes articulate with?
The head articulates with the incus
what does the base of the stapes join?
the oval window
