Structures

Of The Ear

Outer Ear

• Pinna

• Ear Lobe

• Part of external auditory canal.

Pinna is shell like and made of cartilage and skin and directs sound to EAC.

Ear lobe.

• Ear lobe is just skin and cartilage.

• Ear lobes are stretchable

Middle Ear

• Malleus

• Incus

• Stirrup

• Eustachian tube

Eustachian tube helps control pressure and allows air into middle ear to balance the pressure out.

Inner Ear

• Cochlea

• Semi-circular canals

• Auditory Nerve

• Round Window

Pathway to Hearing

• The Pinna funnels sound into the external auditory canal. Sound travels through the ear drum into the middle ear. The sound is passed through the ossicles, which amplify the sound to the oval window. This connects to the inner ear. It travels to the cochlea which is responsible for hearing.

• Semi-circular canals maintain balance.