The middle ear cavity is approximately 15mm vertically and anteroposteriorly. It contains the ear ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes), ligaments, nerves like the chorda tympani and nerve to stapedius, blood vessels, and muscles like the tensor tympani and stapedius. Infections of the middle ear cavity can spread to the cranium, pharynx through the auditory tube, or cause rupture of the tympanic membrane and spread to the mastoid antrum.