The document covers the functional anatomy of the auditory and vestibular apparatus, detailing the structure and roles of the external, middle, and inner ear. It explains sound transmission, cochlear functions, and vestibular mechanisms for balance, alongside clinical aspects such as otitis media and hearing loss. Key elements include the ossicular chain, the cochlea, and the vestibular system's components like utricle and saccule.

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2. Dr.B.B.Gosai
Functional Anatomy of
Auditory and Vestibular Apparatus

3. What we will learn today?
 Label the elements of the ossicular chainAND explain the elements can be seen through the
tympanic membrane at otoscopy
 Explain the transformer function of the middle ear and how this can be disturbed?
 Explain the structure of cochlea
 Describe the steps involved in the transformation of a fluid movement to nervous activity in the
hair cells of the inner ear.
 Explain the structure of the inner ear
 Indicate the location of the endolymph and perilymph compartments. Indicate the sensory cells
of the vestibular apparatus and mechanism of their stimulation.
 Explain the detection of linear and rotatory accelerations by vestibular system.
 Statoconia (Otoconia)
 Explain the functions of the vestibular system and the sequence of events when vestibular system
is stimulated.
 References:
 Clinical Oriented Anatomy by Keith Moore : Ch 7 (EAR), pp. 966 to 980

4. Parts of Ear:
External ear: Pinna, External Acoustic Meatus, tympanic membrane
Middle ear: Ear Ossicles (Malleus, Incus, Stapes)
Inner ear: Cochlea and vestibular apparatus
External and Middle are
concerned with the transmission
of sound to the inner ear
Inner ear converts sound to fluid motion and
then to electrical impulses (action potentials)

5. External Ear

6. External (Outer) Ear
•Auricle (pinna): flap of elastic
cartilage
•External auditory canal
•Tympanic membrane (eardrum)

7. Auricle (Pinna)
Irregular plate of elastic
cartilage covered by skin
Concha: deepest depression
Lobule: important for taking
small blood samples and
inserting earrings
Function: Collection of sound

8. External Acoustic Meatus
Extends from the pinna to the tympanic membrane:
Length: 2-3 cms, Shape: S- shaped
Function: Protects the eardrum, Resonator
Ceruminous glands secrete cerumen (earwax): trap dust
particles

9. Tympanic Membrane:
 Shape: Oval
 Diameter: 1 cm
 Attachment:Tympanic sulcus.
 Parts ofTympanic membrane:
 The tympanic membrane is divided into 2 parts:
 Pars flaccida The area of the tympanic membrane superior to the umbo is
termed the pars flaccida. It is between anterior and posterior malleolar folds.
 Pars tensa: the remainder of the tympanic membrane is the pars tensa.
 The handle of the malleus is firmly attached to the medial tympanic
membrane; where the manubrium draws the tympanic membrane medially, a
concavity is formed.The apex of this concavity is called the umbo.
The tympanic membrane (TM) is thin,
semi-transparent membrane that separates
the external and middle ear tympanic
cavity

10.  Function:Air vibrations collected by the auricle are transferred to the
mobile tympanic membrane, which then transmits the sound to the ossicles.
 Applied Anatomy:
 Infection of tympanic membrane is known as Myringitis.
 During otitis media pus may rupture the membrane and come out through
external ear(Perforation).Artificial opening is done in the tympanic
membrane to drain the pus from middle ear.This procedure is known as
Myrigotomy.
Repair of rupture of tympanic membrane is known as Myringoplasty.
Myrigotomy.

11. Otoscopic Examination: Examination of External ear by Otoscope:
 Handle of Malleus at Umbo
 Light reflex
 Parts of membrane

12. An annulus fibrosus
Lpi long process of incus sometimes visible through a healthy translucent drum
Um umbo the end of the malleus handle and the centre of the drum
Lr light reflex anteroinferioirly
Lp Lateral process of the malleus
At Attic also known as pars flaccida
Hm handle of the malleus
Otoscopic view of External Ear

13. Middle Ear

14. Middle ear
 The middle ear located in the petrous portion of the temporal
bone and is filled with air secondary to communication with the
nasopharynx via the auditory (eustachian) tube.
 Extent:The tympanic cavity (middle ear) extends from the
tympanic membrane to the oval window and contains the bony
conduction elements of the malleus, incus, and stapes.
 Parts:
 It is divided into two parts: Tympanic cavity proper which is
opposite to tympanic membrane and epitympanic recess
which is above the level of tympanic membrane.
 Shape: Biconcave

15. Walls of Tympanic
Cavity
Note:
Membranous (lateral) wall formed by Tympanic membrane
Medial wall also known as Labyrinthine wall as it separates middle ear from
inner ear

16. Pharyngotympanic tube (Auditory tube, EustachianTube): connects
middle ear cavity with nasopharynx.This tube regularly open by swallowing
and yawning
 Function of auditory tube: equalize pressure in middle ear cavity to
atmospheric pressure to allow free movement of tympanic membrane .
Contents of Middle Ear cavity:
 Auditory ossicles (Malleus, Incus, Stapes)
 Stapedius muscle( prevent excessive movement of stapes) and Tensor
tympani muscle (tenses tympanic membrane)
 ChordaTympani nerve, branch of Facial (VII) cranial nerve
 Tympanic plexus of nerves

17. The ossicular chain: formed by the three smallest bones of the body: the malleus
(attached to tympanic membrane), the incus (Middle bone between malleus and
stapes), and the stapes (Attached to oval window). The ossicles are held in place
by joints, muscles, and ligaments, assist in the transmission of sound.
Handle of Malleus is usually visible through tympanic membrane during
otoscopy.
Ossicular chain amplify the sound 20 X due to leverage.

18. Two small fenestrae (oval and round windows), located in the medial wall of
the middle ear, separate the middle ear from the inner ear.
Fenestra vestibuli: (Oval window): The footplate of the stapes sits in the oval
window and the footplate transmits sound to the inner ear (Cochlear organ).
Fenestra cochlea: (Round window) covered by a thin membrane, provides an
exit for sound vibrations

19. Ossicles transmit sound form an air medium to a fluid medium

20. Sound transmission through ear

21. Quiz
 Which bone is seen through tympanic membrane in otoscopy
attached to Umbo?
 Oval window is occupied by which bone?
 Procedure of repair of tympanic perforation is known as:

22. Inner Ear

24. Inner ear
 Inner ear contain vestibulocochlear organ for balance
and hearing.
 Bony labyrinth: (cochlea, vestibule and semicircular
canals) located in petrous temporal bone and contain
perilymph (like CSF) into which membranous labyrinth
is suspended.
 Membranous labyrinth:
 Vestibular labyrinth: formed by utricle and saccule (for
maintenance of balance)
 Cochlear labyrinth: contain cochlear duct (for hearing)
 Membranous labyrinth contain endolymph (like ECF).

25. Cochlea is shell shaped part of bony labyrinth containing cochlear duct .
Spiral canal of cochlea makes 2.5 turns around modiolus.
Oval window occupied by Stapes.
Round window covered by secondary tympanic membrane
Oval window
Round
window

27. Here’s How We Hear
Stapes pushes down on perilymph of scala vestibuli. Perilymph pushes
vestibular membrane down.
Vestibular membrane pushes on endolymph of coclear duct and basilar
membrane goes down and up.
Secondary tympanic membrane goes out and in.
Vestibular membrane separates perilymph of scala vestibuli from endolymph
of cochlear duct.

28. Here’s How We Hear
When hair cells embedded in tectorial membrane vibrate in
basilar membrane, this bends stereocilia.
Potassium Channels are opened;This depolarizes cells.
Action Potential Generated and Neurotransmitters are released.
Message is sent to Cochlear Nerve.

30. Vestibular Apparatus and Equilibrium
Vestibular apparatus maintains the body (mainly the head)
at equilibrium (at balance) and stabilizing the eyes relative
to the environment
Static equilibrium maintenance of the position of the body
(mainly the head) relative to the force of gravity
Dynamic equilibrium maintenance of the position of the body
(mainly the head) in response to sudden movements such as
rotation, acceleration, and deceleration.
Consists of 2 parts:
1. Utricle and saccule for static equilibrium
2. Semicircular canals for dynamic equilibrium

31. Vestibular apparatus

32. Semicircular Canals
Anterior, Posterior and Lateral canals
Arranged in three different planes
Provide information about rotational
acceleration.
Each canal contains a semicircular duct.
At the base is the crista ampullaris
enlarged swellings at base of each canal
communicating with utricles

34. Clinical Aspect
 Otoscopy: Procedure to examine external
ear by straightening external acoustic meatus.
In adults by pulling helix up, out and back and
in child down and back.
 Otitis media: infection of middle ear cavity
secondary to blockage of auditory tube. Pus
collects in the cavity, bulge the tympanic
membrane and lead to rupture of tympanic
membrane. Pus can be drained by
myringotomy

35. Clinical Aspect
 Hearing loss:Tested by tuning fork routinely by
Renne’s test andWeber’s test
 Conductive hearing loss: result from damage to
external and middle ear improved by surgery and
hearing aid devices
 Sensorineural hearing loss: result from defects in
pathway from cochlea to brain. Can be corrected by
cochlear implants
 Vertigo (Dizziness): due to damage to semicircular
ducts.
 Tinnitus (buzzing or ringing): due to localised
damage to cochlear duct.
 Meniere syndrome: due to blockage of cochlear
aqueduct resulting in tinnitus, hearing loss and vertigo.

36. Quiz
 Parts of inner ear?
 Where is endolymph and perilymph?
 Vertigo is due to damage to which part of inner ear?

37. Summary
 External ear collects sound and magnified and transformed
to inner ear via middle ear ossicular chain.
 Cochlear organ is responsible for hearing by movements of
hair cells.
 Vestublar apparatus is formed by utricle, saccule and
semicircular canals.
 Function of inner ear is for maintenance of equillibrium.
 Damage to tympanic membrane (Perforation), Infection of
middle ear (Otitis media), Dizziness and hearing defects
(Inner ear disorders)