Complete structure of the human ear. Ear anatomy: structure, functions, physiological features

Ear - paired ( right and left), symmetrical, complex organ balance and hearing.

Anatomically, the ear is divided into three parts.
#one. outer ear represented by the outer ear canal, the length of which is 30 mm, as well as auricle, which is based on elastic cartilage 1 mm thick. From above, the cartilage is covered with perichondrium and skin. The lower part of the shell is the lobe. It is devoid of cartilage and is formed by fatty tissue, which is also covered with skin. Almost every little girl is given a puncture by her parents ( in other words, piercing) lobes of each ear and decorate them with earrings. Ears should be pierced in compliance with the rules of asepsis in order to avoid local and general infection.

The free edge of the ear shell forms a curl. Parallel to the curl is the antihelix, anterior to which is the cavity of the ear shell. In the ear, a tragus and an antitragus are also distinguished. The auricle is attached to the mastoid and zygomatic process, as well as the temporal bone with the help of muscles and ligaments. The human ear is inactive due to the fact that the muscles that turn it are practically atrophied. The entrance to the outer ear is covered with hair and contains sebaceous glands. The shape of the auricles, like fingerprints, is individual for all people.

The ear canal connects the auricle and the eardrum. In adults, it is longer and narrower, while in children it is shorter and wider. That is why in early childhood otitis is more common. The skin of the ear canal contains sulfur and sebaceous glands.

#2. Middle ear represented by the tympanic cavity, which is located in the temporal bone. It contains the smallest auditory ossicles in the human body: the hammer, stirrup and anvil. They are used to transmit sound inner ear. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear cavity with the nasopharynx;

#3. inner ear the most complex in its structure of all parts. It communicates with the middle ear through a round and oval window. Another name for the inner ear is the membranous labyrinth. It is immersed inside the bony labyrinth. It consists of:
the cochlea is the direct organ of hearing;
vestibule and semicircular tubules - responsible for acceleration, body position in space and balance.

Basic functions of the ear

Perceives sound vibrations;
provides balance and position of the human body in space.

Embryonic development of the ear

Starting from the 4th week of embryonic development, the rudiments of the inner ear are formed. Initially, it is represented by a limited section of the ectoderm. Fully formed inner ear by 9 weeks intrauterine life. The middle and outer ear are formed from the gill slits, starting from the 5th week. The newborn has a fully formed tympanic cavity, the lumen of which is filled with myxoid tissue. It resolves only by the 6th month of a child's life and is a good breeding ground for bacteria.

Ear diseases

Among the common pathologies of the ear, there are: injuries ( barotrauma, acoustic trauma and etc.), congenital malformations, diseases ( otitis, labyrinthitis, etc.).

#one. barotrauma- damage to the paranasal sinuses of the ear or the Eustachian tube associated with changes in ambient pressure. Causes: flying in an airplane, diving, etc. At the time of injury, there is severe pain, congestion and a feeling hard hit. Immediately there is a decrease in hearing, ringing and tinnitus. Gap eardrum accompanied by bleeding from the ear canal;

#2. congenital anomalies ears occur in the first 4 months of fetal development due to genetic defects. Anomalies of the ear are often combined with malformations of the face and skull. Frequent pathologies: lack of ears, macrotia - excessively large ears, microtia - very small ears. Pathologies of the development of the middle ear include: underdevelopment auditory ossicles, infection of the inner ear, etc.;

#3. The most common ear disease between 2 and 8 years of age is otitis media. It is connected with anatomical features ear. You can guess that the ear of a small child hurts if you press on the tragus. Usually the child starts to worry and cry. Characteristic features diseases: shooting pain, which can radiate to the head, and intensify when swallowing, sneezing. The cold makes you sick. As a rule, otitis is combined with rhinitis and tonsillitis;

#four. labyrinthitis- otitis media. Occurs due to incompletely treated otitis media. Sometimes the infection "rises" from caries-affected teeth by the hematogenous route. Symptoms of the disease: hearing loss, nystagmus ( involuntary movement eyeball ) on the affected side, nausea, tinnitus, etc.

Diagnostics

The definition of the disease begins with a survey and examination of the patient by a doctor. During the inspection of the auditory opening in adults, the ear shell is pulled back and up, and in children - back and down. Retraction straightens the auditory meatus and makes it possible to examine it with the auditory funnel to the bone section. During palpation, the doctor presses on the tragus, the cause of pain in which indicates inflammation of the middle ear. In addition, the doctor pays attention to regional The lymph nodes which are not normally defined. The tympanic membrane is examined using an otoscope.

Instrumental Methods research:
X-ray of the temporal bone has great importance for the diagnosis of various pathological formations middle and inner ear;
MRI provides more detailed information about the pathology of the ear; it is especially often used to diagnose tumor and inflammatory changes.

Treatment

An otolaryngologist deals with the treatment of diseases of the ears, as well as the throat and nose.
The most common dosage form used to treat ear diseases are drops. With their help, diseases of the outer and middle ear are treated locally. If a pathological process affected the inner ear, as well as nearby organs ( nose, throat, etc.), then are assigned medications general action (antibiotics, painkillers, etc.). In some advanced cases, for example, with fistula labyrinthitis, surgery is performed.

How to eliminate sulfur plug? Sulfur is an important substance secreted by the glands of the outer ear. She performs protective function, standing out always in the direction of the external auditory canal. As a rule, sulfur plugs occur in people who clean their ears too often or, conversely, very rarely. Most frequent sign sulfur plug - ear congestion. In addition, some people have itchy ears in the presence of sulfur plugs. You can try to remove the sulfur plug at home. To do this, you need to drip a warm solution of hydrogen peroxide into your ear. The sulfur plug will dissolve and hearing will be restored. In a polyclinic, the ear is washed with warm water using a Janet syringe.

Ear transplant

A person who has lost his ear, for example, in a car accident, has a chance to regain a new, identical organ. Currently, this is done through the cultivation of auricles. For the first time, the ear was grown in the laboratories of America. To grow a new organ, a mouse was required, in the back of which ear cartilage cells were injected. The organism successfully accepted an implant grown in this way. Currently, hundreds of these surgeries are being performed in the US. A cheaper option to replace the auricle is prosthetics. The artificial ear prosthesis is made of hypoallergenic silicone. Similar operations, restoring normal image man's face after emergencies performed in all countries of the world. For babies with total absence auricles are created by doctors and biomedical scientists at Cornell using injectable matrices and 3-D printing. At congenital pathology middle ear, in particular in the absence or underdevelopment of the auditory ossicles, implantation is performed hearing aid bone conduction.

Prevention of ear diseases

To prevent water from entering before bathing, it is necessary to use special tampons for the ears;
when bathing a child, avoid getting wet by keeping your head above water. After feeding, you should hold the baby vertically for 5-10 minutes so that air comes out and food does not get into the nasopharynx;
in order to avoid the formation of sulfur plugs, as well as mechanical injury, it is not recommended to clean the ears often using sharp objects. The ear canal should be cleaned with warm water soap with fingers;
measures that contribute to the entry of a foreign body into the ear should be avoided.

The ear is the organ of perception responsible for hearing, thanks to the ears a person has the ability to hear sounds. This organ is thought out by nature to the smallest detail; studying the structure of the ear, a person understands how complex a living organism is, how many interdependent mechanisms that provide vital processes fit in it.

The human ear is a paired organ, both ears are localized symmetrically in the temporal lobes of the head.

The main divisions of the organ of hearing

How is the human ear? Physicians distinguish the main departments.

The outer ear - it is represented by the ear shell leading to the auditory tube, at the end of which a sensitive membrane (tympanic membrane) is installed.

Middle ear - includes an internal cavity, inside there is an ingenious connection of small bones. This section also includes the Eustachian tube.

And part of the human inner ear, which is a complex complex of formations in the form of a labyrinth.

Ears are supplied with blood through branches carotid artery, and are innervated by trigeminal nerve and wandering.

The device of the ear begins with the outer, visible part of the ear, and deepening inward, ends deep inside the skull.

The auricle is an elastic concave cartilaginous formation, covered on top with a layer of perichondrium and skin. This is the outer visible part ear protruding from the head. The part of the auricle below is soft, this is the earlobe.

Inside it, under the skin, is not cartilage, but fat. The structure of the auricle in humans is characterized by immobility; Human ears do not react to sound with movement, as, for example, in dogs.

At the top, the shell is framed by a roller-curl; from the inside, it passes into the antihelix, they are separated by a long depression. Outside, the passage to the ear is slightly covered by a cartilaginous protrusion - a tragus.

The auricle, having the shape of a funnel, provides a smooth movement of sound vibrations into internal structures human ear.

Middle ear

What is located in the middle part of the ear? There are several functional sectors:

physicians determine the tympanic cavity;
mastoid protrusion;
eustachian tube.

The tympanic cavity is separated from the auditory canal by the tympanic membrane. The cavity contains air entering through the Eustachian meatus. A feature of the human middle ear is a chain of tiny bones in the cavity, inextricably linked to each other.

The structure of the human ear is considered complex because of its most hidden internal section, closest to the brain. There are very sensitive, unique formations here: semicircular tubules in the form of tubes, as well as a snail that looks like a miniature shell.

The semicircular tubes are responsible for the work vestibular apparatus human, which regulates the balance and coordination of the human body, as well as the possibility of its acceleration in space. The function of the cochlea is to convert the sound stream into an impulse transmitted to the analyzing part of the brain.

Another curious feature of the structure of the ear are vestibule sacs, anterior and posterior. One of them interacts with the cochlea, the second - with the semicircular tubules. The sacs contain otolithic apparatus, consisting of crystals of phosphate and carbonic lime.

vestibular apparatus

The anatomy of the human ear includes not only the device of the hearing apparatus of the body, but also the organization of body coordination.

The principle of operation of the semicircular canals is to move inside their fluid, which presses on the microscopic hairs-cilia that line the walls of the tubes. From the position accepted by man, it depends on which hairs the liquid will press on. And also a description of what kind of signal the brain will eventually receive.

Age-related hearing loss

Hearing acuity decreases with age. This is due to the fact that part of the hairs inside the cochlea gradually disappears, without the possibility of recovery.

Processes of sound processing in the organ

The process of perception of sounds by the ear and our brain occurs along the chain:

First, the auricle picks up sound vibrations from the surrounding space.
The sound vibration travels along the auditory pathway, reaching the tympanic membrane.
She begins to oscillate, transmitting a signal to the middle ear.
The middle ear region receives the signal and transmits it to the auditory ossicles.

The structure of the middle ear is ingenious in its simplicity, but the thoughtfulness of the parts of the system makes scientists admire: the bones, hammer, anvil, stirrup are closely interconnected.

The scheme of the structure of the internal bone components does not provide for the disunity of their work. The malleus, on the one hand, communicates with the tympanic membrane, on the other hand, adjoins the anvil, which, in turn, is connected to the stirrup, which opens and closes the oval window.

An organic layout that delivers precise, streamlined, uninterrupted rhythm. The auditory ossicles convert sounds, noise, into signals distinguishable by our brain and are responsible for hearing acuity.

It is noteworthy that the human middle ear is connected to the nasopharyngeal region, using the Eustachian canal.

Organ features

- the most complex link of the hearing aid, located inside the temporal bone. Between the middle and inner sections there are two windows different shapes: oval window and round.

Externally, the structure of the inner ear looks like a kind of labyrinth, starting with the vestibule leading to the cochlea and semicircular canals. Internal cavities cochlea and canals contain fluids: endolymph and perilymph.

Sound vibrations, passing through the outer and middle sections of the ear, through the oval window, enter the inner ear, where they oscillatory movements, cause both cochlear and tubular lymphatic substances to fluctuate. While fluctuating, they irritate snail receptor inclusions, which form neuroimpulses transmitted to the brain.

Ear care

The auricle is subject to external contamination, it must be washed with water, washing the folds, dirt often accumulates in them. In the ears, or rather, in their passages, special discharges appear from time to time yellowish color, this is sulfur.

The role of sulfur in the human body is to protect the ear from midges, dust, bacteria. Clogging the auditory canal, sulfur often worsens the quality of hearing. The ear has the ability to self-purify from sulfur: chewing movements contribute to the falling off of dried sulfur particles and their removal from the organ.

But sometimes this process is disrupted and the accumulations in the ear that are not removed in time harden, forming a cork. To remove the cork, as well as for diseases that occur in the outer, middle and inner ear, you need to contact an otorhinolaryngologist.

Injuries to the auricle of a person can occur with external mechanical influences:

falls;
cuts;
punctures;
suppuration of the soft tissues of the ear.

Injuries are caused by the structure of the ear, the protrusion of its outer part outward. Injuries are also best handled medical care to an ENT specialist or a traumatologist, he will explain the structure of the outer ear, its functions and the dangers that await a person in everyday life.

Video: Anatomy of the ear

The structure of the ear of humans and other mammals is different from the anatomy of this organ in other representatives of the animal world. For example, amphibians and reptiles do not have an external ear, while birds have a much larger number of somatic cells. Differences in the structure and functions of the ear sections are associated primarily with the lack of the need for most mammals for a long time be under water or at high altitude.

It would seem that everything is simple: the structure of the human ear is conditionally divided into external, middle and internal. Accordingly, the disease of one or another department will have the same name. For example, otitis media can be external or middle, however, inflammation of the inner ear is not commonly called " otitis media”, in which case the term “labyrinthitis” is used.

How the human ear is arranged is described in detail in this article.

How is the outer human ear

The description of the structure of the ear should begin with the auricle. This is what we see from the outside. Inside the shell is the external auditory meatus. Both the shell and the passage are referred to as the outer ear. The auricle has many protrusions and recesses with rounded outlines. It is formed by cartilage, but Bottom part, a lobe, is just a skin fold.

The diagram "Anatomy of the ear" shows the structure of the auricle:

The external auditory meatus is a canal about 4 cm long, which connects the auricle and the tympanic membrane, which hermetically closes the following parts of the ear.

One of the structural features of the ear is the presence of earwax, which is formed in the external auditory canal. This is a very useful substance, which is a viscous substance that protects the ear from dust, germs and drying out. Sulfur is brought out on its own. Do not use cotton buds for cleaning the ears, this can lead to wax blockage and, as a result, inflammation. Since the external auditory meatus has a common wall with the temporomandibular joint, earwax independently removed from the ear outward during chewing movements, capturing dead skin cells, dust, hair and other foreign objects that have fallen into the ear. In the absence of disturbances, the ear is cleared without assistance. Moreover, if you try to get rid of sulfur on your own, this can lead to the formation of a sulfur plug.

The intricate asymmetric structure of the auricle as part of the anatomy of the human ear is not a whim of nature. This configuration allows you to capture the sound as fully as possible and direct it towards the external auditory canal. The ear canal, in turn, transmits the sound wave to the eardrum, causing it to vibrate.

The tympanic membrane in the structure of the ear

Everyone knows about the tympanic membrane, but, oddly enough, knowledge about hearing processes is limited to it. For example, the tympanic membrane is considered almost the only element responsible for hearing. Therefore, they are horrified when it is damaged, believing that this will lead to complete deafness. But this is far from true. Rupture or perforation (formation of a hole) of the eardrum does not always lead even to hearing loss, not to mention its loss. For some patients, the message that they have a hole in the eardrum comes as a complete surprise.

As shown in the diagram of the structure of the ear, the tympanic membrane is a translucent membrane, consisting of several layers of tissue, and is the boundary between the outer and middle ear:

But anatomically, it belongs to the middle ear. It can be seen if you shine a flashlight into the ear, pulling the auricle to the side. Normally, she has grey colour and a smooth surface that reflects the light of a flashlight in the form of a cone (light cone). The light cone is referred to as the so-called identification marks of the tympanic membrane - these are various protrusions, indentations and structures of the middle ear translucent through it.

If the identification marks are not visible or the membrane becomes opaque, this means that there is a problem with the middle ear. If the eardrum bulges, then fluid or an inflamed mucous membrane presses on it from the inside. This happens with purulent otitis media. Conversely, if it retracts into the middle ear, it may be a sign of ear ventilation problems. This happens with exudative otitis media or tubotitis (impaired function of the auditory tube). Therefore, when the doctor looks into the ear, he evaluates appearance eardrum: its color, transparency, the presence of identification marks and holes. In order to clearly see the membrane, an ear funnel and a microscope are used. In the absence of a microscope, a special portable otoscope with a built-in funnel is used.

If you went to an ENT doctor, especially for ear problems, and the doctor does not have a microscope or an otoscope, you should choose another specialist!

Vibrating when exposed to sound waves, the eardrum transmits the sound wave to the inner ear through a chain of special microscopic auditory ossicles.

Look at the photo - there are three such bones in the structure of the ear, and they are called very colorfully - “hammer”, “anvil” and “stirrup”:

It is characteristic that the names of the bones fully reflect their shape. The bones are interconnected by miniature joints that have all the real tendons. The significance of such a complex chain is that it amplifies the sound wave when it is transmitted to the inner ear towards the auditory nerve. Conversely, when excessive loud sounds the auditory ossicles extinguish it, thereby protecting the inner ear from damage. In that complex mechanism miniature muscles located in the tympanic cavity also participate: the stirrup muscle and the muscle that stretches the eardrum. Even the muscles of the middle ear can undergo a nervous tic - this is the so-called myoclonus. In this case, a person feels rhythmic tapping in the ear. This usually lasts a few minutes, but there are times when it does not stop on its own. In this case, a small operation is performed, when the muscle that caused the inconvenience is dissected and everything goes away.

We hear not only through the air. The sound wave also enters the auditory nerve through the bones of the skull. Therefore, the loss of the eardrum and even the auditory ossicles never leads to complete deafness.

The tympanic membrane and the auditory ossicles are located in the so-called tympanic cavity, but the middle ear is not limited to this. The tympanic cavity is connected through a small canal to the mastoid process, a bony protrusion that can be easily felt behind the auricle. Inside it has a porous structure filled with air. Passes straight through the ear facial nerve, responsible for facial expressions, and the "drum string" - a nerve responsible for the taste sensitivity of the tongue. That's why severe inflammation or surgical intervention on the ear can lead to loss taste sensitivity and impaired movement of mimic muscles.

This diagram shows the structure of the tympanic membrane in the human ear:

The structure of the human inner ear

As we can see, the ear is a very complex organ that provides far more than one function of the human body. We will be even more convinced of this by a trip to the "holy of holies" - the inner ear.

The inner ear is the most complex part of the anatomy of the ear, and these photos confirm this:

It has such an intricate structure that not all ENT doctors are well versed in it. But this is not an anatomy textbook for specialists, so we will not dive into details, our goal is to understand only the principle of the ear.

How is the human inner ear arranged? It consists of the cochlea (its main function is to provide, in fact, hearing), and the vestibular system (it is not responsible for balance). How does a person understand that the balance has been disturbed, and gives signals to the muscles to align it? For this, semicircular canals, microscopic tubes located in three mutually perpendicular planes (three in each ear) serve - they determine the position of the head in space. Inside the channels are miniature crystals - otoliths. When they move, nerve cells are excited, transmitting information to the brain. And he, in turn, sends signals to certain muscle groups.

The process of sound recognition is similar to that described above: the auditory ossicles cause vibrations in the fluid that fills the cochlea, which causes excitation of nerve cells. Each nerve cell has many tiny hairs that pick up the smallest fluctuations in the fluid at various frequencies. Thus, mechanical vibrations turn into electrical impulses - it is them that the brain recognizes as sounds.

Loud music lovers run the risk of partially losing their hearing and not even noticing it! The fact is that with loud sounds, the nerve cells of the cochlea lose their highly sensitive hairs. This results in hearing loss at certain frequencies. The hairs that perceive high frequencies are most easily and quickly damaged. Therefore, a person most often does not even notice that the sensitivity of his hearing has significantly decreased.

The auditory tube in the structure of the ear

Speaking about how the ear works, it is important to note its relationship with the nose: the middle ear is connected to the nose through a muscular tube - the auditory tube. Through it, the middle ear is cleaned and ventilated. Usually the auditory tube is in a collapsed state and opens only when swallowing or yawning. At this moment, you can hear a click or crunch - this is the sound of the opening of the auditory tube. As soon as the auditory tube opens, the pressure in the middle ear equalizes. That is why it is advised to yawn or swallow frequently in an airplane during climb and descent in order to equalize pressure drops.

Normal ventilation of the ear also depends on the auditory tube. When a runny nose occurs, the auditory tube swells and ceases to equalize pressure, resulting in inflammation of the middle ear. Inflammation or disruption of the auditory tube doctors call dysfunction or tubotitis. This diagnosis is made if the inflammation has not yet occurred, but there are signs of a violation of pressure equalization in the middle ear. If tubotitis is present for a long time, then chronic changes, scars and adhesions can occur in the ear, reducing hearing (adhesive otitis media).

During the flight, when climbing and descending, it is necessary to yawn or swallow as often as possible. This will help open the Eustachian tube and equalize the pressure in the middle ear.

Now it is obvious that the occurrence of a problem in any part of the hearing organ can cause its reduction or hearing loss. If everything is more or less clear with the structure and main functions of the outer and middle ear, then the work of the inner ear is still a mystery to scientists. That is why dizziness or hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear is difficult to treat.

Here you can see complete scheme the structure of the human ear, a detailed description of which is presented on this page:

If you have questions for the doctor, please ask them on the consultation page. To do this, click on the button:

Human ear composition

An exceptional organ in the structure of the body is the organ of hearing. Despite the external simplicity, this area has a complex structure. The main function of the organ is the distinction of signals, noises, tones and speech, their transformation and increase or decrease.

The following elements are responsible for supporting all tasks in the ear:

Outer part. The structure of this area includes the outer shell, which passes into the auditory tube.
Next is the tympanic region, which separates the outer ear from the middle region.
The cavity behind the tympanic region is called the middle ear, which includes the auditory bones and the Eustachian tube.
Next is the inner region of the ear, which is considered one of the most intricate and intricate in the structure of the described organ. The main task of this cavity is to maintain balance.

In the anatomy of the ear are the following structural elements:

curl;
- this is a bulge on the outer part of the ear, located on the outer part;
the paired organ of the tragus is the antihelix. It is located on the top of the lobe;
earlobe.

outdoor area

Outer part of the ear that a person sees is called the outer region. It consists of soft tissues and a cartilaginous sheath.

Unfortunately, due to the soft structure of this area,

It leads to severe pain and prolonged treatment.

Most of all, small children and people who are professionally engaged in boxing or oriental martial arts suffer from broken cartilage and ear bones.

In addition, the auricle is subject to numerous viral and. Most often this happens in the cold season and with frequent touching of the hearing organ with dirty hands.

Thanks to outdoor area, the person has ability to hear sounds. It is through the outer part of the auditory organ that sound frequencies pass into the brain.

It is interesting that, unlike animals, the human hearing organ is motionless and, in addition to the functions described, does not have additional capabilities.

When sound frequencies enter the outer ear, decibels fall through ear canal to the middle part. To protect and maintain the functioning of the middle ear area, it is covered with skin folds. This allows you to additionally protect your ears and process any sound frequencies.

The human ear can detect sounds at various distances, from one centimeter to twenty or thirty meters, depending on age.

Sulfur cork.

To hear the described sound vibrations helps the outer ear auditory tube, which at the end of the pass is converted to bone tissue. In addition, the auditory tube is responsible for the functioning of the sulfur glands.

Sulfur is a yellowish slimy substance necessary to protect the hearing organ from infections, bacteria, dust, foreign objects and ingestion of small insects.

Sulfur is normally excreted from the body on one's own. However, with improper cleaning or lack of hygiene, it forms sulfur plug. Removing the plug yourself is prohibited, as you can push it further down the ear canal.

To eliminate such unpleasant problem contact a specialist. He will wash the ear with specialized tinctures. In the event that going to a qualified doctor is not possible, purchase "" or "". These products gently remove wax and cleanse the ear. However, the use of drugs is allowed with a small accumulation of sulfur.

The outer ear goes into middle region. They are separated by the eardrum. After the processing of sounds by this area, the sound passes into the middle part. See photo for visualization. outer shell below.

The structure of the outer region

You can clearly see the structure of the outer ear of a person with a description in the diagram below.

The auricle consists of twelve elements of varying complexity of the structure:

curl;
rook;
tubercle of Darwin;
ear cavity;
antitragus;
lobe;
curl leg;
tragus;
sink bowl;
the lower leg of the antihelix;
triangular fossa;
the upper leg of the antihelix.

The outer ear is made up of elastic cartilage. The upper and outer edge of the ear is transformed into a curl. Paired organ the curl is located closer to the passage. It goes around the outer hole and forms two protrusions:

Protiposelet, located behind.
Tragus located in front.

Earlobe represents soft tissue in which there are no bones and cartilage.

Darwin's tubercle has a pathological structure and is considered an anomaly of the body.

The structure of the human middle ear

Middle ear a person is located behind the tympanic region and is considered the main structure of the organ of hearing. The volume of the middle part is about one cubic centimeter.

The middle region falls on the temporal part of the head, in which the following elements:

Drum area.
The auditory tube that unites the nasopharynx and the tympanic part.
Next is a part of the temporal bone called the mastoid process. It is located behind the outer part of the auditory tube.

Of the presented elements, it is necessary to analyze in more detail the structure of the drum part, since the main functions of processing sound frequencies take place in this area. So, the tympanic region is divided into three parts:

Adjacent to the eardrum first part - hammer. Its function is to receive sound waves and transmit them to the next area.
After the malleus is the anvil. The main function of this area is the initial processing of sounds and the direction to the stirrup.
Directly in front of the internal region of the organ of hearing and after the hammer is the stirrup. It processes the received sound and translates the cleaned signals further.

The main function of the auditory ossicles is the conversion of signals, noise, low or high frequencies and transmission from the outside to the inner ear. In addition, the hammer, anvil and stirrup are responsible for the following tasks:

maintaining the tone of the tympanic region and supporting its functioning;
softening too high sounds;
increase in low sound waves.

Any trauma or complications after lead to dysfunction stirrup, anvil and hammer. This can provoke not only hearing loss, but also loss of sharpness of sounds forever.

It is important to understand that sharp sounds, such as explosions, can cause reflex contraction, thereby damaging the structure of the hearing organ. This will result in partial or complete hearing loss.

inner ear

The inner ear is considered one of the most complex components of the described organ. Due to its complex structure, this area is often referred to as membranous labyrinth.

Inner part is located in the stony region of the temporal bone and is connected to the middle ear by windows of various shapes.

The structure of the human inner ear includes the following elements:

entrance to the labyrinth;
snail;
semicircular canals.

The composition of the last element includes liquids of the form two types:

Endolymph.
Perilymph.

In addition, the inner ear contains vestibular system . It is responsible for the function of balance in space.

As mentioned above, the labyrinth is located inside the bone skull.

The inner ear is separated from the brain by a space filled with a viscous fluid. She is responsible for conducting sounds.

A snail is located in the same area.

Snail looks like a spiral channel, which is divided into two parts. This spiral channel is responsible for the transformation of sound vibrations.

Conclusion

Having become acquainted with what the ear consists of and with its structure, it is important to monitor the health of the ears daily. It is important to maintain immune system and at the slightest sign disease, see a specialist.

Otherwise, main function hearing may be impaired and lead to severe complications in the form of loss of sensitivity to sounds and noise forever.

Remember that the hearing organ must perform its functions smoothly. Inflammation of the ears severe consequences, and any disorders seriously affect a person's life.

The middle ear is an integral part of the ear. It occupies the space between the external auditory organ and the tympanic membrane. Its structure involves numerous elements that have certain features and functions.

Structural features

The middle ear is made up of several important elements. Each of these constituent parts has structural features.

tympanic cavity

This is the middle part of the ear, very vulnerable, often exposed to inflammatory diseases. It is located behind the eardrum, not reaching the inner ear. Its surface is covered with a thin mucous membrane. It has the shape of a prism with four irregular sides, filled with air inside. Consists of several walls:

The outer wall with a membranous structure is formed by the inner part of the tympanic membrane, as well as the bone of the ear canal.
The inner wall on top has a recess in which the window of the vestibule is located. Represents a small oval hole, which is covered by the lower surface of the stirrup. Below it is a cape along which a furrow passes. Behind it is a funnel-shaped dimple, in which the window of the cochlea is placed. From above, it is limited by a bone roller. Above the window of the cochlea there is a tympanic sinus, which is a small depression.
The upper wall, which is called the tegmental, as it is formed by a solid bone substance and protects it. The deepest part of the cavity is called the dome. This wall is necessary to separate the tympanic cavity from the walls of the skull.
The lower wall is jugular, as it participates in the creation of the jugular fossa. It has an uneven surface, as it contains drum cells necessary for air circulation.
The posterior mastoid wall contains an opening that leads to the mastoid cave.
The anterior wall has a bone structure and is formed by a substance from the canal of the carotid artery. Therefore, this wall is called sleepy.

Conventionally, the tympanic cavity is divided into 3 sections. The lower one is formed by the lower wall of the tympanic cavity. The middle is the larger part, the space between the top and lower bound. Upper section is the part of the cavity corresponding to its upper boundary.

auditory ossicles

They are located in the tympanic cavity and have importance, because without them it would be impossible sound perception. These are the hammer, anvil and stirrup.

Their name comes from the corresponding form. They are very small and are lined with a mucous membrane on the outside.

These elements are connected to each other, forming real joints. They have limited mobility, but allow you to change the position of the elements. They are connected to each other as follows:

The hammer has a rounded head that connects to the handle.
The anvil has a rather massive body, as well as 2 processes. One of them is short, rests against the hole, and the second is long, directed towards the handle of the malleus, thickened at the end.
The stirrup includes a small head, topped with articular cartilage, serves to articulate the anvil and 2 legs - one is straight, and the second is more curved. These legs are attached to an oval plate contained in the vestibule window.

The main function of these elements is the transmission of sound impulses from the membrane to oval window vestibule. In addition, these vibrations are amplified, which makes it possible to transmit them directly to the perilymph of the inner ear. This is due to the fact that the auditory ossicles are articulated in a lever way. In addition, the size of the stirrup is many times smaller than the tympanic membrane. Therefore, even minor sound waves allow you to hear sounds.

muscles

There are also 2 muscles in the middle ear - they are the smallest in human body. The muscle bellies are located in the secondary cavities. One serves to tension the eardrum and is attached to the handle of the malleus. The second is called the stirrup and is attached to the head of the stirrup.

These muscles are necessary to maintain the position of the auditory ossicles, regulate their movements. This makes it possible to perceive sounds of various strengths.

Eustachian tube

The middle ear is connected to the nasal cavity through the Eustachian tube. It is a small channel, about 3-4 cm long. C inside it is covered with a mucous membrane, on the surface of which there is a ciliated epithelium. The movement of his cilia is directed towards the nasopharynx.

Conditionally divided into 2 parts. The one that is adjacent to the ear cavity has walls with a bone structure. And the part adjacent to the nasopharynx has cartilaginous walls. AT normal condition the walls are adjacent to each other, but when moving the jaw they diverge into different sides. Due to this, air freely flows from the nasopharynx to the organ of hearing, providing the same pressure within the organ.

Due to its close proximity to the nasopharynx, the Eustachian tube is prone to inflammatory processes, since the infection can easily penetrate into it from the nose. Its patency can be disturbed by colds.

In this case, the person will experience congestion, which brings some discomfort. To deal with it, you can do the following:

Examine the ear. Unpleasant symptom can be called ear plug. You can remove it yourself. To do this, drop into ear canal a few drops of peroxide. After 10-15 minutes, the sulfur will soften, so it can be easily removed.
Move your lower jaw. This method helps with mild congestion. Need to put forward lower jaw forward and move it from side to side.
Apply the Valsalva method. Suitable in cases where ear congestion does not go away for a long time. Close your ears and nostrils and take a deep breath. Gotta try to breathe it out closed nose. The procedure should be carried out very carefully, since during it blood pressure can change and the heartbeat accelerates.
Use the Toynbee method. You need to fill your mouth with water, close the ear holes and nostrils, take a sip.

The Eustachian tube is very important because it maintains normal pressure in the ear. And when it is blocked by various reasons this pressure is disturbed, the patient complains of tinnitus.

If after the above manipulations the symptom does not go away, you should consult a doctor. Otherwise, complications may develop.

Mastoid

It's small bone formation, convex above the surface and shaped like a papilla. Located behind the ear. It is filled with numerous cavities - cells connected to each other by narrow slots. Mastoid needed to improve the acoustic properties of the ear.

Main functions

The following functions of the middle ear can be distinguished:

Sound conduction. It sends sound to the middle ear. Sound vibrations are captured by the outer part, then they pass through the auditory canal, reaching the membrane. This causes it to vibrate, which affects the auditory ossicles. Through them, vibrations are transmitted to inner ear on a special membrane.
Even distribution of pressure in the ear. When Atmosphere pressure very different from what takes place in the middle ear, it aligns through the eustachian tube. Therefore, when flying or when immersed in water, the ears temporarily lay down, as they adapt to new pressure conditions.
Safety function. The middle part of the ear is equipped with special muscles that protect the organ from injury. With very strong sounds, these muscles reduce the mobility of the auditory ossicles to minimum level. Therefore, the membranes do not rupture. However, if strong sounds are very sharp and sudden, the muscles may not have time to perform their functions. Therefore, it is important to beware of similar situations otherwise, you may lose some or all of your hearing.

Thus, the middle ear performs very important features and is an integral part of the auditory organ. But it is very sensitive, so it should be protected from negative influences.. Otherwise, they may appear various diseases leading to hearing loss.