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| Hollow, air-filled cavity located medial to the tympanic membrane between the outer ear and the inner ear. It is located within the temporal bone and is where airborne sound is converted to mechanical energy. |
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| Portion of the auditory and vestibular systems consisting of the cochlea, saccule, utricle, vestibule, and semicircular canals. |
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| Peripheral Auditory System |
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| Anatonical subsystem of the human auditory system, consisting of the outer, middle, and inner ears. |
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| Subsystem of the human auditory system, consisting of the auditory pathways from the cochlear nucleus to the cerebral cortex. |
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| Outermost portion of the auditory system, consisting of the auricle and the external auditory meatus. |
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| Functional component of the auditory system. Consisting of the outer and middle ears. Its function is to conduct sound energyfrom outside the head to be used by the sensory mechanism. |
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| Functional component of the auditory system, consisting of the inner ear. |
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| Paired cranial bone of the skull that houses the middle and inner ear structures. It consists of four parts: the squamous portion, the mastoid portion, the petrous portion, and the tympanic portion. |
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| Air-filled spaces in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. |
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| Outermost portion of the auditory system, forming a cup around the entrance to the external auditory meatus. |
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| Canal leading from the auricle to the tympanic membrane; approximately 25-35mm long, rather narrow,and s shaped. |
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| Elastic structure that separtes the outer ear from the middle ear cavity. |
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| Waxy lubricant designed to reduce dryness and keep the ear cancal supple and clean. |
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| Ring of fibrous tissue on the outer edhe of the tympanic membrane. |
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| Groove in the bony wall of the external auditory meatus that holds the annulus of the tympanic membrane. |
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| Largest portion of the tympanic membrane, containing numerous fibers that contribute to the taut nature of the membrane. |
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| Small, triangular area on the superior portion of the tympanic membrane that contains few fibers and is flaccid in nature. Also called Shrapnell's membrane. |
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| Center point of the tympanic membrane, representing the projection from the manubrium of the malleus. |
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| Reflected spot of light radiating from the center to the periphery of the tympanic membrane when viewed through an otoscope. |
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| Most lateral of the three ossicles that are suspended from the roof of the epitympanic recess; hammer shaped. |
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| Tympanic Membrane Quadrants |
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Definition
| Anterior superior, anterior inferior, posterior superior, posterior inferior |
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| Opening in the medial wall of the middle ear cavity that contains the footplate of the stapes. Also called the oval window. |
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| Opening in the medial wall of the middle ear cavity inferior to the fenesta vestibuli and covered by a thin, internal tympanic membrane. Also called round window. |
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| Projection on the medial wall of the middle ear inferior to the fenestra rotunda that is created by a protrusion of the first turn of the cochlea. |
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| Facial nerve; passes through the middle ear superior to the fenestra vestibulli; innervates portions of the face and the stapedius muscle. |
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| Branch of the facial nerve that passes through the middle ear and carries information about taste from the anterior portion of the tongue to the central nervous system. |
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| Prominence on the posterior side of the middle ear cavity that contains the stapedius muscle. |
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| One of two middle ear muscles; the smallest striated muscle in the human body, located in the posterior portion of the middle ear cavity. It connects to the neck of the stapes and, on contraction, causes an increase in stiffness to the ossicular chain. |
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Definition
| One of two middle ear muscles, located in the anterior portion of the middle ear cavity. it is connectd to the manubrium of the malleus and, on contraction, moves the malleus medially and anteriorly, thus stiffening the middle ear mechanism. |
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Definition
| Main portion of the tympanic cavity. It lies between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear and contains the ossicles. Also called the tympanum. |
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| Epitympanic Recess (attic) |
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Definition
| Upper region of the middle ear that runs from the upper border of the tympanic membrane to the roof of the middle ear. It contains the head of the malleus and the body and short process of the incus. |
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| Auditory (Eustachian) Tube |
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Definition
| Tube connecting the middle ear cavity to the nasopharynx. Its functions are to equalize pressure in the middle ear, provide an air supply needed for metabolism of the middle ear's tissues, and drain middle ear secretions. |
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| Ossicles (Ossicular Chain) |
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Definition
| Three small bones-- the malleus, the incus and the stapes-- that cross the middle ear cavity and transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear mechanism. |
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| Middle of the three ossicles that are suspended from the roof of the epitympanic recess; anvil shaped. |
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| Most medial of the three ossicles that are suspended from the roof of the epitympanic recess; stirrup shaped. |
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| Trigeminal nerve; innervates the tensor tympani muscle as well as other muscles. |
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| Medial wall of the middle ear that that separates it from the inner ear. |
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| Fluid found in the osseous labyrinth of the inner ear. |
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| Overall opposition to the flow of energy by a medium; consists of mass, stiffness, and resistance. |
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Definition
| Combined factors of areal ratio, the lever action of the malleus and incus, and the curved-membrane buckling mechanism of the tympanic membrane that serve as an impedance-matching mechanism between the outside air and the dense fluid of the inner ear. |
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| Condensation Effect (Areal Ratio) |
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Definition
| Difference in the effective areas of the tympanic membrane and the footplate of the stapes. The force is held contant while the area is reduced, resulting in an increase in pressure. |
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| Curved-Membrane Buckling Mechanism |
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Definition
| Greater displacement of the tympanic membrane than of the manubrium of the malleus, resulting in a transfer of force. This results from the edges of the tympanic membrane being firmly attached to the annulus and the inertia of the manubrium. |
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Definition
| Opening to a body cavity; specifically, the nasopharyngeal opening of the eustachian tube. |
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Definition
| Contraction of the stapedius muscle in response to external sounds. |
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| Hearing loss resulting from impairment to any part of the conductive auditory mechanism. |
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