▪ The Ear INTRO

▪ ear (organum vestibulocochleare [auris ▪ evolved as an organ of balance and hearing in

vertebrates.
▪ Inner ear ▪ !e most primitive part is this which in all vertebrates
consists of a membranous labyrinth within a bony
labyrinth and functions for both balance and hearing
▪ Middle ear ▪ Fish have only an inner ear, whereas amphibians and
reptiles developed an additional chamber, the
▪ formed by a tympanic cavity (cavum tympani) that is an
extension
▪ of the pharynx
▪ columella, ▪ portion of the hyomandibular bone from the second
branchial arch develops into a sound conducting ossicle
which transmits vibrations from the tympanic
membrane, across the air-filled tympanic cavity, to the
inner ear.
▪ Auricle/pinna ▪ Only mammals (except cetaceans and a few others)
have a
▪ well-defined external ear formed by a cartilaginous
▪ otic placode ▪ subsequently invaginates to form an otic pit and otic
vesicle (otocyst) that breaks away from its attachment
to the surface ectoderm.
▪ membranous labyrinth ▪ This saccular structure undergoes extensive
modification of its shape but always retains its #uid-
"lled lumen (endolymph) and surrounding thin
epithelial wall as it becomes the
▪ bony labyrinth ▪ The fluid-filled (perilymph) ossified structure is this
which is contained within the developing petrous
portion of the temporal bone

▪ Inner Ear
▪ Bony Labyrinth
▪ bony labyrinth ▪ in the petrous part of the temporal bone consists of
three continuous fluid-filed portions: vestibule,
semicircular ducts and cochlea which arise from the
vestibule contains perilymph
▪ Vestibule
▪ Vestibule ▪ is an irregular, oval space, approximately 3 mm in
diameter, that communicates with the cochlea
rostrally and with the semicircular canals caudally
▪ elliptical ▪ Caudodorsal depression to the medial wall of vestibule
▪ recess
▪ spherical recess for the sacule ▪ Rostroventral to elliptical recess
▪ vestibular crus ▪ separates the two recesses
▪ Maculae cribrosae ▪ Several groups of small openings that accommodate
the nerves of this region occur near the recesses. These
tiny groups of foramina are called
▪ vestibular window ▪ In the vestibule are two openings: this is the more
dorsal one in which is inserted the foot plate of the
stapes
 ▪ cochlear window ▪ In the vestibule are two openings: the more
ventrorostral which is closed by a membrane and is
located at the end of the cochlea where perilymph
vibrations can be dampened into the tympanic cavity
▪ Semicircular Canals
▪ 3 semicircular canals ▪ Anterior, posterior, and lateral
▪ They lie caudal and slightly dorsal to the vestibule.
▪ Each canal describes approximately two thirds of a
circle in a single plane, and each is approximately at a
90-degree angle to the other two.
▪ crus. ▪ segment of the canal that communicates with the
vestibule is called the
▪ osseous ampulla (ampullae osseae ▪ One crus of each canal has a dilation near the junction
with the
▪ vestibule.
▪ anterior canal ▪ is roughly parallel with the posterior canal of the
opposite ear.
▪ It is the longest. The arc it forms measures
approximately 6 mm
▪ across at the widest part
▪ lateral canal ▪ of each side occupies a nearly horizontal plane. forms
an arc that measures approximately 4.5 mm,
▪ Arc of posterior canal ▪ is the smallest, measuring only 3.5 mm in medium-
sized dogs
▪ common crus ▪ is formed by the nonampullated ends of the posterior
and anterior canals. In sculptured specimens the
anterior semicircular canal is seen to surround the
floccular fossa, a small but deep depression on the
medial side of the petrous part of the temporal bone
▪ Cochlea
▪ Cochlea ▪ is the bony shell that surrounds the cochlear duct in a
spiral of three and one-quarter turns around a central
hollow core of bone, the modiolus,
▪ modiolus, ▪ Central hollow core of bone which contains the
cochlear nerve and blood vessels.
▪ Osseous spiral lamina ▪ that winds around the modiolus, much like the thread
of a screw, nearly bisects the lumen of the cochlea
into two portions: scala tympani and scala vestibuli
▪ begins within the vestibule and ends at the apex in a
free hooklike process, the hamulus.
▪ Scala vestibuli ▪ communicates with the vestibule, and hence the
perilymph within it is acted on by the vibrations of the
base of the stapes in the vestibular window.
▪ Cochlear window ▪ is an opening situated near the rostral end of the
vestibule by which the scala tympani communicates
with
▪ utriculosaccular
▪ duct the tympanic cavity.
▪ secondary tympanic ▪ Closes the cochlear window
▪ membrane
▪ membranous cochlear duct ▪ Formerly scala media
▪ completes the separation of the two scalae.
 ▪ helicotrema, ▪ The scalae communicate at the apex of the modiolus
by a small opening, this which is formed at the free
border of the hamulus
▪ Longitudinal modiolar ▪ Along with a spiral modiolar canal serve for the
▪ Canals distribution of both blood vessels and nerves to the
cochlea
▪ perilymphatic duct ▪ One source of perilymph is CSF from the subarachnoid
space that gains entrance to the scala tympani of the
cochlea via this in the small cochlear caniculus
▪ not part of the membranous labyrinth
▪ small cochlear canaliculus ▪ This small canal ourses directly ventrad from a point
on the ventral wall of the scala tympani near its origin
to communicate with the subarachnoid space
▪ Membranous Labyrinth
▪ membranous labyrinth ▪ ectodermally derived; consists of four fluid-filled
compartments, all of which communicate
▪ These compartments are contained within the ▪ Saccule, utriculus within the bony vestibule connected
components of by, and three semicircular ducts, cochlear duct
▪ the bony labyrinth and include the
▪ ductus reuniens ▪ cochlear duct within the bony cochlea that is
connected to the saccule by the
▪ endolymphatic duct ▪ is an extension from the utriculosaccular duct through
the bony vestibular aqueduct to the intracranial dura
where the duct expands into an endolymphatic sac
▪ endolymph ▪ contained within the membranous labyrinth is
thought to be derived from the blood vessels and
epithelium of the stria vascularis along the peripheral
wall of the cochlear duct and is absorbed back into
the blood through the blood vessels surrounding the
endolymphatic sac.
▪ Crista Ampullaris
▪ crista ampullaris ▪ is the receptor organ associated with each
semicircular duct.
▪ ampulla. ▪ At one end of each membranous semicircular duct is a
dilation called the
▪ crista ampullaris ▪ On one side of the membranous ampulla, a
proliferation of connective tissue forms a transverse
ridge called the
▪ cupula, ▪ On the surface of the crista is a gelatinous structure
that is composed of a protein-polysaccharide material
called the
▪ Macula
▪ Macula ▪ the receptor organ found in the utriculus and saccule,
which are located in the bony vestibule
▪ are on one surface of each of these saclike structures
▪ is an oval-shaped plaque in which the membranous
labyrinth has proliferated.
▪ statoconiorum (otolithic) ▪ This neuroepithelium is composed of hair cells and
▪ membrane. supporting cells. Covering the neuroepithelium is a
gelatinous material, the
▪ statoconia (otoliths ▪ On the surface of otolithic membrane are calcareous
crystalline bodies known as
▪ Vestibular Nerve
▪ vestibular ganglion ▪ The cell bodies of these bipolartype sensory neurons
are inserted along the course of the axons within the
petrous portion of the temporal bone, where they form
the
▪ Cochlear Duct-Spiral Ganglion
▪ cochlear duct ▪ The most highly developed and dfferentiated portion
of the membranous labyrinth is the
▪ This duct has a triangular shape with its base
▪ Stria vascularis ▪ adjacent to the peripheral wall of the cochlea.
▪ A thin vestibular membrane ▪ forms the roof of the cochlear duct
▪ thicker basilar membrane ▪ forms the floor of the duct
▪ spiral organ ▪ formerly organ of Corti
▪ is a collection of hair cells and supporting cells that
rests on the basilar membrane.
▪ Basilar membrane ▪ separates the endolymph of this duct from the
perilymph of the scala tympani
▪ thin vestibular membrane ▪ separates the endolymph of the cochlear duct from
the perilymph in the scala vestibuli of the cochlea
▪ canal for duct and cochlea for ▪ The distinction between the osseous and the
▪ cochlear duct. membranous labyrinth is sometimes blurred in
textbooks by the carefree use of

▪ The Middle Ear

▪ middle ear ▪ nsists of an air-filled tympanic cavity (cavum tympani)
connected with the nasopharynx via the auditory tube
(tuba auditiva), and closed to the outside by the
tympanic membrane (membrana tympani) at the level
of the external acoustic meatus.
▪
dorsal epitympanic recess and a large, ▪ The tympanic cavity has these
▪
ventral tympanic bulla
▪
3 auditory ossicles ▪ The middle portion of the tympanic cavity contains
▪
Malleus, incus, stapes and the two muscles the
▪ Tympanic Membrane
▪ eardrum, or tympanic membrane ▪ covers the entrance to the tympanic cavity and
separates the middle ear cavity from the external
acoustic meatus.
▪ It is a thin, semitransparent, three-layered membrane
somewhat oval in shape and concave when viewed
externally
▪ The tympanic membrane may be divided into two ▪ pars flaccida and the pars tensa
parts
▪ Pars flacida ▪ is a small dorsal triangular portion that lies between
the short lateral process of the malleus and the
margins of the tympanic incisure.
▪ Pars tensa ▪ constitutes the remainder of the membrane that
attaches peripherally to the fibrocartilaginous anulus.
▪ umbo membranae tympani ▪ The most depressed point, which is opposite the distal
end of the manubrium,
▪ ▪ A light-colored streak that can be seen running
dorsocaudally from he umbo toward the pars flaccida
when viewed from the external side.
 ▪ This is caused by the manubrium being partly visible
through the tympanic membrane along its
attachment.

▪ Tympanic Cavity
▪ tympanic cavity (cavum tympani ▪ is the oblique space between the petrosal and
tympanic parts of the temporal bone.
▪ It contains the three auditory ossicles that transmit
vibrations of the tympanic membrane to the
perilymphatic space of the vestibule of the inner ear
and numerous nerves cross through
▪ the tympanic cavity.
▪ epitympanic recess ▪ is dorsal to a dorsal plane through the osseous
external acoustic meatus.
▪ It is a small portion of the tympanic cavity occupied
almost entirely by the head of the malleus and the
incus at their articulation
▪ cochlear window ▪ In the caudal portion, but facing rostrally, is the
secondary tympanic membrane closing the\
▪ formerly round window
▪ cochlear canaliculus ▪ Just within the cochlear window is this
▪ Promontory ▪ On the medial wall of the tympanic cavity is a bony
eminence, this that houses the cochlea;
▪ it lies opposite the tympanic membrane medial to the
epitympanic recess
▪ vestibular window ▪ formerly oval window
▪ is occupied by the base of stapes.
▪ It is located on the dorsolateral surface of the
promontory just medial to the pars flaccid
▪ ostium of the auditory tube ▪ is the rostral extremity of the tympanic cavity proper.
▪ chorda tympani ▪ Nerves that are found coursing through the tympanic
cavity include this from the facial nerve that passes
through the tympanic cavity medial to the malleus to
join the lingual nerve
▪ auditory tube ▪ Formerly Eustachian tube
▪ a short canal that extends from the nasopharynx to
the rostral portion of the tympanic cavity.
▪ Its short bony wall is formed rostrally by the
squamous part of the temporal bone, and ventrally its
floor is formed by the tympanic part of the temporal
bone.
▪ Bones and Articulations of the Middle Ear
▪ auditory ossicles (ossicula auditus ▪ are three small bones that transmit air vibrations from
the tympanic membrane across the cavity of the
middle ear to the inner ear.
▪ Malleus ▪ -the most lateral and largest of the ossicles
▪ consists of a head; a wide, thin neck; and a
manubrium, or handle
▪ manubrium ▪ is three-sided in cross-section.
▪ The side embedded in the substance of the tympanic
membrane is wider and smoother than the other two;
▪ is also slightly concave longitudinally
 ▪ muscular ▪ At the base of the manubrium, extending medially and
▪ process of the malleus slightly rostrally, is the
▪ This is provided with a tiny hook at its end, to which
the m. tensor tympani attaches
▪ rostral ▪ or long process, is largely embedded in the tympanic
▪ process membrane.
▪ It extends directly rostral from the neck of the
malleus, arising at the same level as the muscular
process.
▪ Short lateral process ▪ Opposite the muscular process at an angle of
approximately 90 degrees with the rostral process is
the
▪ This is the most dorsal attachment of the manubrium
to the tympanic membrane
▪ Head of malleus ▪ Articulates with the body of the incus in the
epitympanic recess, the most dorsal portion of the
tympanic cavity
▪ Incus ▪ measuring approximately 4 mm long and 3 mm high,
is much smaller than the malleus.
▪ Its shape has often been likened to a human bicuspid
tooth with divergent roots.
▪ consists of a body, two crura and a process.
▪ Body of incus ▪ Incus lies caudal to the malleus in the epitympanic
recess where the head of the malleus articulates with
what part of incus
▪ short crus ▪ Points caudally into the fossa incudis dorsal to this
ridge
▪ Long crus ▪ is also directed caudally but presents a small bone,
the os
▪ lenticularis
▪ Os lenticularis ▪ which is in the articulation between the incus and the
stapes. It extends rostrally and somewhat medially
from the distal end of the incus
▪ In some instances this connection ossifies to form the
processus lenticularis
▪ Stapes ▪ consists of a head, two crura, a base, and a muscular
process. It lies in a horizontal plane, the base facing
medially.
▪ is the innermost ossicle and is the smallest bone in the
body, being approximately 2 mm in length.
▪ Head of stapes ▪ articulates with the incus via the os lenticulare or
lenticular process.
▪ Base of stapes ▪ Articulates with the fibrocartilaginous ring that covers
the edge of the vestibular window.
▪ rostral and caudal crura ▪ are hollowed on their concave or opposed sides.
▪ thin stapedial membrane ▪ connects one crus to another
▪ muscular process ▪ from the caudal crus near the head is a minute this
that provides attachment for the stapedius muscle
▪ Ligaments of the Ossicles
▪ Lateral ligament of the malleus ▪ A short but fairly well-defined structure that connects
the lateral process of the malleus to the margins of
the tympanic notch.
 ▪ Dorsal ligament of the malleus ▪ a somewhat diffuse mass of ligamentous tissue that
joins the head of the malleus to a small area on the
roof of the epitympanic recess
▪ rostral ligament ▪ Is a short ligament attaching the rostral process of the
▪ of the malleus malleus to the osseous tympanic ring just ventral to
the canal by which the chorda tympani leaves the
tympanic cavity
▪ dorsal ligament of the ▪ The body of the incus is attached to the roof of the
▪ incus. epitympanic recess by the
▪ caudal ligament of the incus ▪ attaches the short crus of the incus to the fossa
incudis
▪ anular ligament of stapes ▪ attaches the base of the stapes to the cartilage that
lines the vestibular window.
▪ Muscles of Ossicles
▪ m. tensor tympani ▪ is spherical, with its base in the fossa tensor tympani.
▪ The short tendon of insertion is attached to the hook
on the apex of the muscular process of the malleus
▪ Actions; Contraction of this muscle tends to draw the
handle of the malleus medially, tensing the tympanic
membrane
▪ Innervation: is by a branch from the mandibular nerve
from the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V
▪ m. stapedius ▪ is the smallest skeletal muscle in the body, and its
origin is in the fossa musculae stapedis.
▪ The body of the muscle lies largely medial to the facial
nerve.
▪ Its tendon of insertion attaches to the muscular
process of the stapes
▪ Action: moves the rostral end of the base of the
stapes caudolaterally and tenses the ossicle to reduce
movement
▪ Innervation: This muscle is innervated by the stapedial
branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)

▪ External Ear
▪ external ear of mammals ▪ consists of the auricle and external acoustic meatus.
▪ It varies greatly in size and shape between species and
within domestic breeds.
▪ evolved as a sound-gathering structure, although its
morphologic features in some breeds of domestic
dogs appear to impede rather than enhance its
function
▪ The ears, when erect, can be directed independently
to localize and
▪ collect sound
▪ Sound ▪ is conducted via the external acoustic meatus to the
tympanic membrane deep in the external acoustic
meatus.
▪ External Acoustic Meatus
▪ external acoustic meatus ▪ Is the canal from the base of the auricle to the
▪ meatus acousticus externus tympanic membrane surrounded by annular cartilage
and the tubular portion of the auricular cartilage.
▪ Auricle
▪ Auricle, pinna, ▪ is the externally visible part of the ear.
▪ auricular cartilage ▪ The size and shape of the nontubular part of this
determines the appearance of the auricle, which may
be upright or pendulous
▪ In some breeds, such as the Boxer, it is often surgically
trimmed
▪ covered by skin and is moved by muscles.
▪ pierced by many foramina that permit the passage of
blood vessels and nerves from the convex surface to
the concave surface
▪ conchal cavity ▪ is the proximal portion of the auricle where it is
funnel-shaped at the entrance into the external
acoustic meatus.
▪ Anthelix ▪ is a transverse fold of cartilage on the concave surface
of the auricle.
▪ It is adjacent to the distal portion of the conchal cavity
and separates the conchal cavity from the scapha
▪ scapha, ▪ which is the large flat concave internal side of the auri
▪ anular cartilage (cartilago anularis ▪ The tubular external acoustic meatus extends
ventrally and then bends medially until it meets this
small structure which that fits into the proximal
portion of the tubular cartilage of the external
acoustic meatus
▪ is approximately 2 cm long in the average size dog
▪ helix. ▪ The entire free margin of the auricle and passing over
the apex is the
▪ Spine of the helix ( ▪ is a medial projection on the proximal part of the helix
medially
▪ marginal cutaneous sac or pouch ▪ On the proximal lateral portion of the helix is a fold of
skin partly supported by cartilage known as the
▪ Tragus ▪ is a thick blunt irregularly quadrangular plate of
cartilage that projects from the rostral border of this
entrance
▪ antitragus. ▪ Lateral to the tragus on this rostral border is a thin
elongate projection of cartilage
▪ consists of medial and lateral processes that project
laterally
▪ intertragic incisure ▪ The antitragus is separated from the tragus by a notch
called the
▪ styloid process ▪ The apex of the lateral process ends in a sharp point
laterally called the
▪ antitragicohelicine incisure ▪ This process is separated from the lateral portion of
the helix by the
▪ medial and lateral crura ▪ Medial to the tragus on this rostral border are two
crura formed from the medial portion of the helix.
These are
▪ pretragic incisure (incisura pretragica ▪ These medial and lateral crura (crus helicis mediale
and laterale) project laterally and are separated from
the tragus by the
▪ Lateral crus of helix ▪ is close to the opening of the external acoustic meatus
and caudal to the medial crus of the helix
 ▪ medial crus of the helix ▪ borders the intertragic incisure.
▪ Muscles of the Ear
▪ Scutiform cartilage
▪ the scutiform cartilage (cartilago scutiformis) or ▪ A small, boot-shaped cartilaginous place which is
scutellum located in the rostroauricular muscles medial to the
ear.
▪ is thought to be a detached portion of the conchal
spina helicis that separates at birth or shortly
afterward, so it should be considered a part of the
external ear
▪ corpus adiposum auriculare, ▪ Deep to the scutiform cartilage there is a fatty cushion
that extends over a portion of the temporal muscle
and around the base of the ear, giving the overlying
muscle mass more mobility.
▪ Inner ear: Anterior, posterior, or lateral for semicircular ducts,
▪ canals, and ampullae; superior or inferior for the area
▪ vestibularis
▪ Middle ear: Rostral or caudal on the tympanic membrane;
▪ medial or lateral in the auditory tube; rostral or lateral for
▪ the processes of the malleus; rostral or caudal in the cavum
▪ tympani
▪ External ear: Directional terms apply to the ear with the
▪ concave surface of the auricle facing rostrally. !us the
▪ concave surface is the rostral surface and the convex surface
▪ is the caudal surface and there are medial and lateral borders.
▪ !ere are rostral and caudal auricular nerves. !e caudal
▪ auricular artery has lateral, intermediate, and medial
▪ branches.