structures of the ear

Ampulla

a structure in the vestibular system, providing the sense of spatial orientation.

External acoustic meatus

conducts sound waves to the tympanic membrane. The external acoustic meatus is a partly cartilaginous and partly bony S-shaped canal, leading to the tympanic membrane, which separates the external ear from the middle ear.

Vestibule

contains structures that help you sense gravity and linear acceleration.

Cochlea

is responsible for the transfer of pressure waves into nerve impulses.

Auricle (pinna

is the external, visible component of the ear around the outer opening of the ear canal. The main function of the auricle is to collect, amplify and direct sound waves into the external auditory canal.

Oval window

membrane-covered opening from the middle ear to the cochlea of the inner ear. Sound waves cause vibration of the tympanic membrane and the ossicles transmit those vibrations to the oval window, which leads to movement of fluid within the cochlea and activation of receptors for hearing.

Stapes

A stirrup-shaped bone in the middle ear. The stapes transmits sound vibrations from the incus, another little bone in the middle ear, to the oval window adjacent to the inner ear. The stapes is the smallest bone in the body.

Pharyngeotympanic tube

a 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.J

Incus

anvil; middle of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear. receives vibrations from the malleus, to which it is connected laterally, and transmits these to the stapes medially.

Tympanic membrane

thin layer of tissue in the human ear that receives sound vibrations from the outer air and transmits them to the auditory ossicles, which are tiny bones in the tympanic, also called the eardrum

Semicircular canals

three tiny, fluid-filled tubes in your inner ear that help you keep your balance. When your head moves around, the liquid inside the semicircular canals sloshes around and moves the tiny hairs that line each canal.

Malleus

transmit sound from the tympanic membrane (ear drum) to the inner ear. The malleus receives vibrations from the tympanic membrane and transmits this to the incus.