Anatomy of the inner ear
Embyrology
Membraneous Labyrinth:
• Starts by the end of third week(22-25 days)
from a specialized ectoderm on either side
of brain
Otic placode
Otic pit
Otocyst/otic vesicle
Otic vesicle divides into:
1. Dorsal part: forms
• Endolymphtic duct and sac
• Utricle
• Semicircular ducts
2. ventral part: forms
• Saccule
• Cochlear duct
Formation of membranous
labyrinth is completed by 25
weeks of fetal age
Bony labyrinth:
• Ossification begins in around 16th
week .
• With progression of time, cartilaginous part get ossified to form bony labyrinth by 14 ossification
centre.
Inner ear
• Lies in the temporal bone.
• Is called labyrinth from the
complexity of its shape.
Bony labyrinth
• Derived from the inner periosteal layer
of the otic capsule.
• Contains a clear fluid, the perilymph,
in which the membranous labyrinth is
situated.
The vestibule
• Central part of the osseous labyrinth.
• Flattened ovoid transversely and is
situated between tympanic cavity and
fundus of internal auditory meatus
Located behind the cochlea
in front of the semicircular canals
The semicircular canals
• Three in number: Superior, posterior, and
lateral.
• Situated above and behind the vestibule.
• Unequal in length.
Superior SCC
• Length : 15 to 20 mm
• Direction : vertical (placed transversely to the long axis of the petrous portion of the temporal
bone).
Posterior SCC
• Length : 18 to 22 mm.
• Direction: vertical(nearly parallel to the posterior surface of the petrous bone)
Lateral /horizontal SCC
• Length :12 to 15 mm
• Its ampullated end corresponds to the upper and lateral angle of the vestibule
The cochlea
• Forms the anterior part of the labyrinth.
• Conical in form.
• Apex is directed forward and lateral, with a slight inclination downward, toward the upper and
front part of the labyrinthic wall of the tympanic cavity.
• Base corresponds with the bottom of the internal acoustic meatus.
The membranous labyrinth
• Series of communicating sacs and ducts derived from the ectoderm and filled with endolymph.
PERILYMPH: ENDOLYMPH:
Resembles extracellular fluid. Resembles intracellular fluid.
Rich in Na+ ions. Rich in K+ ions.
SOURCE:2 theories SOURCE:
1)filtrate of blood 1) Stria vascularis.
serum from capillaries
of spiral ligament. 2) Dark cells of utricle
& ampullated ends of
2)CSF reaching semicircular canals.
labyrinth via aqueduct
of cochlea.
Cochlear duct
• Spirally arranged tube lying on the upper
surface of spiral lamina.
• Average length: 34+/- 2 mm.
• Triangular in cross-section.
Organ of Corti
• Ridge like structure containing the auditory sensory
cells and a complex arrangement of supporting cells.
• Each hair cell has a number of small hair-like
projections called stereocilia (cilia) extending from
the top of the cell.
Basilar membrane
• Sheet predominantly formed of extracellular matrix.
• Composed of filaments.
Tectorial membrane
• Structured sheet of extracellular matrix material overlying organ of corti.
• Thickness decreases and radial length increases systematically from base to apex.
Inner hair cells Outer hair cells
Approximately 3500 in number. Approximetly 12,000 in number.
Lies in one row. Lies in 3-4 rows.
Flask shaped. Cylindrical shaped.
Mainly afferent nerve fibres supply. Mainly efferent nerve fibres supply.
Early development. Late development.
Transmit auditory stimuli. Modulate function of inner hair cells.
More resistant to ototoxic drugs. More sensitive & easily damaged by ototoxic
drugs.
More resistant to high More sensitive & easily damaged by high
intensity noise. intensity noise.
No generation of otoacoustic emissions. Generates otoacoustic emissions.
Lateral wall
• Formed by stria vascularis above, spiral prominence below and
a transitional zone in between.
Roof (Reissner’s membrane)
• Thin membrane stretching from bony spiral lamina to the upper part of the lateral wall of the
cochlear duct.
• Endolymphatic surface contains squamous cells which forms the tight junction that separates
endolymph with perilymph
Vestibular labyrinth
• Complex series of interconnecting
membranous ducts and sacs which contain the
vestibular sensory epithelium.
• Unlike cochlea, the sensory epithelium is
found in localized collections in the three
ampullae of the semicircular ducts and
maculae of the saccule and utricle.
Saccule
Globular in form and lies in the
spherical recess near the opening of
the scala vestibuli of the cochlea.
Utricle
• Oblong shaped, occupies the upper and back part of the vestibule.
• Utricle and the saccule, respond to gravity and linear acceleration in horizontal
(utricle) and vertical (saccule) directions.
Semicircular ducts
• 0.2 mm in diameter, three in number.
• Resemble bony canals.
• Open in the utricle.
Vestibular Receptor Organs
Crista
• Location: ampullated ends of semicircular
ducts
• Receptors respond to angular acceleration.
• Crista consists of hair cells,supporting cells
and gelatinous mass.
• Gelatinous mass is dome shaped hence
called cupula.
Nerve supply of cochlea
1. Mainly afferent fibres of spiral ganglion.
2. Efferent fibres.
Vestibular nerve
• Supplies the utricle, the saccule, and the ampulla of the semicircular duct.
Cochleo vestibular nerve
• In the internal acoustic meatus, the vestibular nerve comprising the superior ,inferior and singular
nerves runs medially to merge with the cochlear division.
Blood supply
Venous drainage
• Internal auditory vein.
• Vein of cochlear aqueduct.
• Vein of vestibular aqueduct.
Drains into inferior petrosal and sigmoid sinuses.
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