Anatomy and

Physiology of the
Ear

3 Parts of the Ear

Outer, Middle, and Inner Ear
Part 1 OUTER EAR- Pinna to Tympanic
Membrane
The pre amp makes sound waves stronger

Does Ear Wax Have a Purpose?

2 important functions
1.Keeps skin in ear canal
soft
2. Keeps bugs out
(they dont like the taste)

What Causes Outer Ear

Hearing Loss ?
Wax pushed up against eardrum
(tympanic membrane)
from q-tip use
Sharp objects that puncture tympanic
membrane
Born with damaged ear canal or
without pinna
Swimmers Ear - what is that?

Swimmers Ear
Water +
Germs or bacteria +
Wax in the auditory canal = mold
Complications
How to treat it????

Tympanic Membrane
Healthy TM is translucent is
silvery in color

Red or pink or bulging shows

an infection.

TYMPANIC MEMBRANCE
Normal versus Infection

Part 2 - Middle Ear

Sound waves change
to mechanical energy
in the middle ear
chamber

What are the parts of the Middle

Ear?
Back of tympanic membrane
3 small bones
Eustachian tube

Malleus, Incus, and Stapes

3 smallest bones in the body

Eustachian Tube
What is the
purpose?
Drain cells/tissue
Equalize air
pressure

What Causes Hearing Loss in the

Middle Ear ?
Calcium deposits on bones
Solution ?
Loud sudden noises- firecracker, gunshot
Solution?
Trauma to the head- fall, car accident
Otitis media- what is that???

Otitis Media
Most common ailment
for children- Why???
Germs travel up
eustachian tube-lodge in
middle ear

Why are Parents concerned?

Ossicles do not
vibrate correctly =
25dB hearing loss
Critical time for
learning langauge
Treatments??

Antibiotics

Children over medicated?

Will condition improve by itself?
Are new strains of bacteria developing?
Risks for developing speech?

Ear Tubes- Chronic Otitis Media

Small slit made in TM and tube put
in for drainage from Middle Earmost tubes fall out after a few
months

Which is your real voice?

The voice YOU hear?

The voice on a tape?

Sorry- youre the only

one who hears it
Why?

This is your voice to

the world

CONDUCTIVE HEARING
LOSS
Any hearing loss occurring in the
OUTER or MIDDLE EAR
Examples ?????
Malformed pinna, too much wax,
swimmers ear (or water stuck in ear),
torn tympamic membrane, Otitis media,
calcium deposits on ossicles,
torn muscles that control the ossicles
Conductive Hearing Loss can be repaired

The Inner Ear

Cochlea
semi- circular canals
auditory nerve (8th
cranial nerve)
Note the changes of
energy as the sound
waves come through
each part of the ear

Entrance to the Inner ear

The 3 bones vibrate causing a

disturbance at the Oval Window

Parts of the Inner Ear

Cochlea
Semi-circular Canals
Auditory (8th cranial) nerve

Why do you get dizzy?

Liquid in Semi
Circular canals
Information from
cilia sent to brain
Must match info
sent from eyes
Dizzy = brain
doesnt know what
to follow

The COCHLEA
Size of a pea
Fluid filled
Contains up to 20,000
cilia or hair-like nerve
endings

 Movement of the fluid

stimulates the cilia
Creates Electrical
impulses

Auditory nerve- carries electrical

impulses from cilia (in cochlea and
semicircular canals) to the brain for
interpretation

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

(Hearing loss in the Inner Ear)
Known etiologies Multiple Sclerosis
Leukemia
Sickle cell
syphilis
Bacterial infection( meningitis)
Mumps
ototoxic drugs (aspirin)
tumor (from cell phones?)
noise explosion
menieres disease
genetic connexin 26
toys- noise levels
membrane rupture
airbag (ruptures tympanic membrane, tinnitus hearing loss)
Premature birth
unknown

Review--Pathway of Sound
Sound waves enter pinna travel through auditory canal
Sound waves strike tympanic membrane causing vibrations
(mechanical energy)
Vibrating TM causes ossicles to vibrate
Vibrating stapes bone at oval window generates movement of
cochlear fluid (Hydralics)
Fluid movement stimulates cilia- lined cochlea
Cilia sends electrical impulses along auditory nerve to brain
for interpretation