Chapter 36

Internal Ear
Textbook of Human Anatomy
Volume 5: Head, Neck and Face
Author: Dr Yogesh Sontakke,
JIPMER, Pondicherry

©CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt Ltd, New Delhi

 INTRODUCTION

● Ear is the sensory organ of hearing and equilibrium. Ear consists of three parts:
External ear, middle ear, and internal ear (Fig. 36.1).
● External ear consists of auricle and external acoustic meatus. Auricle is shaped
irregular because of presence of irregularly shaped elastic cartilage. Auricle
consists of an elastic cartilage that is covered on both sides by tightly adherent
layers of thin skin. External auditory meatus is a tubular canal that extends from
concha to the tympanic membrane. The external ear is separated from middle
ear by tympanic membrane
 INTRODUCTION

● Middle ear is a small space in the petrous part of temporal bone. Middle ear
contains three ossicles (incus, malleus, and stapes) that are composed of
compact bone. Middle ear contains two skeletal muscles (tensor tympani and
stapedius muscles) that control movement of ear ossicles.
● Internal ear lies within the petrous part of temporal bone. It has bony labyrinth
and membranous labyrinth. Bony labyrinth consists of three parts: cochlea,
vestibule, and semicircular canals. Within the bony labyrinth, there is a system of
ducts that constitutes membranous labyrinth
Fig. 36.1: Parts of ear
 INTERNAL EAR
● Internal ear lies in the petrous part of temporal bone. It
consists of two parts as follows:
1. Bony labyrinth: It has three parts: cochlea, vestibule,
and semicircular canals.
2. Membranous labyrinth: It consists of duct of cochlea,
semicircular ducts, ductus reuniens, utricle, saccule,
and endolymphatic duct and sac.
● Membranous labyrinth is filled with a fluid called
endolymph. Membranous labyrinth is separated from
the bony labyrinth by perilymph (fluid).
Bony Labyrinth
● Bony labyrinth consists of three parts:
1. Cochlea anteriorly
2. Vestibule in the middle
3. Semicircular canals posteriorly (Fig. 36.2).

Fig. 36.2: Right bony labyrinth.

Cochlea
● Bony cochlea resembles the shell of a common snail. It is cone shaped, spirally arranged bony canal. It has a conical central
axis/modiolus around which cochlea makes two and three-quarter (2¾) turns. The basal turn of cochlea bulges into tympanic
cavity as the promontory.
● A spiral ridge of bone (spiral lamina) projects from modiolus and divide the bony cochlear canal into scala vestibuli above and
scala tympani below. Scala vestibuli and scala tympani are filled with perilymph.
● Basilar membrane completes the division of bony cochlear canal. Scala vestibule communicates with the scala tympani at the
apex of cochlea by a small opening called helicotrema. Cochlear nerve emerges from the base of cochlea.
● The aqueduct of cochlea is a narrow tubular canal through which perilymph within the cochlea communicates with the
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the subarachnoid space through cochlear canaliculus.
Vestibule
● This is the central ovoid cavity of bony labyrinth. It opens into the middle ear by two openings:
1. Fenestra vestibuli/oval window that is closed by foot plate of stapes.
2. Fenestra cochleae/round window that is closed by a membrane called secondary tympanic membrane.
● Interior of vestibule:
The medial wall of the vestibule presents two recesses: spherical recess anteriorly and elliptical recess posteriorly. The two recesses
are separated by the vestibular crest, which splits inferiorly to enclose the cochlear recess.
Spherical recess lodges saccule and is perforated by foramina for the passage of lower division of the vestibular nerve.
Elliptical recess lodges the utricle and is perforated by foramina for the passage of the upper division of the vestibular nerve.
Just below the elliptical recess, vestibule has opening for aqueduct of vestibule, and it is closed by ductus endolymphaticus.
The anterior wall of the vestibule bears an opening, which communicates with scala vestibuli of the cochlear canal.
The posterior wall of the vestibule bears five openings of three semicircular canals.
Semicircular Canals
● There are three bony semicircular canals: superior or anterior, posterior, and lateral.
● Each canal is about two-third of a circle.
● Dilated end of each canal is called ampulla. These three semicircular canals open into the vestibule by five
openings. These canals lie perpendicular to each other.
1. Superior or anterior semicircular canal: It lies in a vertical plane at right angle to the long axis of the petrous
temporal bone. It is convex upwards. It creates an arcuate eminence on the anterior surface of the petrous
temporal bone.
2. Posterior semicircular canal: It also lies in a vertical plane parallel to the long axis of petrous temporal bone. Its
convexity is directed backwards.
3. Lateral semicircular canal: It lies in the horizontal plane. Its convexity is directed posterolaterally.
∙ Lateral semicircular canals of two sides lie in the same plane. Superior or anterior semicircular canal of one side
lies parallel to the posterior semicircular canal of the other side. Anterior and posterior semicircular canals, lying
across and along the long axis of the petrous temporal bone, are each at 450 with the sagittal plane.
 Membranous Labyrinth
● It is a membrane-bound cavity filled with
endolymph.
● Membranous labyrinth has three receptors –
organ of Corti (for sound), maculae (for static
balance), and cristae (for kinetic balance).
● Membranous labyrinth consists of following
parts (Fig. 36.3):
1. Spiral duct of cochlea or organ of Corti (lies within
cochlea)
2. Utricle and saccule with maculae (lie within
vestibule)
3. Semicircular ducts with cristae (lie within bony
semicircular canals).

Fig. 36.3: Interior of vestibule (right, medial view, ASC, LSC, PSC:
Anterior, lateral, and posterior semicircular canals)
 Duct of Cochlea (Scala Media)
● The spiral duct occupies the middle part of cochlear canal
between scala vestibuli and scala tympani (Figs 36.4 and 36.5).
● It is triangular in cross-section. It has three walls
1. Floor – basilar membrane
2. Roof – vestibular/Reissner's membrane
3. Outer wall – bony wall of cochlea
● Scala media contains endolymph. Basilar membrane supports
the organ of Corti (end organ for hearing).
● Organ of Corti is innervated by peripheral processes of bipolar
cells located in spiral ganglion. Central processes of bipolar cells
form cochlear nerve.
● Vestibular/Reissner's membrane extends from spiral lamina to the
lateral wall of cochlear canal. Vestibular membrane separates
cochlear duct from scala vestibuli.
● Basilar membrane is a fibrous sheet that extends from free edge
of spiral lamina to the spiral ligament.
● Spiral ligament is the thickened endosteum of lateral wall of
cochlear canal.
● Cochlear duct is connected to saccule by narrow ductus
Fig. 36.4: Direction of semicircular canals (note: same colored arrow
reuniens.
indicates the parallel semicircular canals)
● Stria vascularis is highly vascular zone in the lateral wall of
cochlear duct.
 Saccule and Utricle
● These are parts of membranous labyrinth. These consist of thin
fibrous sheet lined with simple squamous or cuboidal epithelium.
● Saccule lies within vestibule and is connected to cochlear duct by
ductus reuniens. Utricle also lies within vestibule. Utricle
communicates ampulla of semicircular ducts through five
openings.
● Duct of saccule and ducts of utricle unite with ductus
endolymphaticus. Ductus endolymphaticus has terminal dilatation
called saccus endolymphaticus.
● Medial wall of saccule and utricle are thickened to form macula in
each chamber.
● Maculae are supplied by vestibular ganglion. Macula senses
linear acceleration.
Semicircular Ducts
● Three semicircular ducts lie within the bony semicircular canals
(superior, posterior, and lateral).
● Each semicircular duct has dilated terminal parts called ampulla
that opens into the utricle through five openings.
● Each ampulla has ampullary crest/crista/cupola.
● Ducts are arranged perpendicular to each other. Hence, they help
Fig. 36.5: Cochlear duct, scala vestibuli, and scala tympani to sense angular acceleration of head.
(CSF = cerebrospinal fluid)
 ORGAN OF CORTI
Q. Write a short note on organ of Corti.
Q. List the names of cells of organ of Corti.
● Organ of Corti is an end organ of hearing [Alfonso
Corti, 1822–1876, Italian anatomist].
● Organ of Corti is situated on the basilar membrane and
extends in a spiral manner along with turns of cochlea.
Organ of Corti consists of supporting cells, receptor
hair cells, and membrana tectoria (Figs 36.6 and 36.7).
● Cells of organ of corti are covered by gelatinous
membrane called membrana tectoria.
● Membrana tectoria is a gelatinous sheet of
glycoproteins. Tips of stereocilia of hair cells are
embedded in the membrana tectoria.

Fig. 36.6: Membranous labyrinth.

 Supporting Cells
● Organ of Corti has supporting cells such as inner and outer
rod cells, phalangeal cells of Dieters, cells of Hensen, and
cells of Claudius.
● Rod cells: Rod cells have broad base/footplate/crus that rests
on basilar membrane and elongated middle part/rod. Rod
cells are arranged in two rows as inner and outer rod cells.
Heads of these cells have expanded horizontal
processes/pharyngeal processes. These processes join to
form reticular lamina.
● Tunnel of Corti: Rod cells enclose a cavity called tunnel of
Corti. It contains cortilymph fluid.
● Phalangeal cells of Deiters: These cells rest on basilar
membrane and support the outer hair cells [Otto Deiters,
1834–1863, German neuroanatomist].
● Hensen cells: These cells support phalangeal and outer hair
cells.
● Cells of Claudius: These are cuboidal cells that lie lateral to
the Hensen cells [Friedrich Claudius, 1822– 1869, German
anatomist].
● Bottcher cells: These are polygonal cells that lie deep the
cells of Claudius and rest on basilar membrane [Bottcher
Fig. 36.6: Membranous labyrinth.
Jacob, 1831–1889, German pathologist and anatomist].
 Hair Cells
● These are receptor cells of hearing. These are
columnar/pyriform cells. They rest on phalangeal cells
(do not reach basilar membrane). Their apical surface
has thickened cuticular plate and bundle of stereocilia
(hairs).
● Cuticular plates of adjacent cells are attached with each
other.
● Each hair cell has 30–100 stereocilia. Few stereocilia
are embedded within the membrana tectoria. Hair cells
are arranged into two groups: Inner hair cells (a single
row) and outer hair cells (3–4 rows).
● Peripheral processes of bipolar neurons end in hair
cells.
● Spiral limbus bulges into the scala media from the inner
angle between the points of modiolus origin of vestibular
membrane and basilar membrane.
● Spiral limbus provides attachment to the tectorial
membrane.

Fig. 36.7: Section of cochlea.

 Box 36.1: Macula
● Maculae are thickened zone in the utricle and saccule (otolith organs) and are
called macula utriculi and saccular macula (Fig. 36.8).
● Macula utriculi has ~33,000 hair cells, whereas saccular macula has ~18,000
hair cells.
● Striola is a narrow-curved line in the center that divides macula into two areas.
Structure
● A macula has two parts: Sensory neuroepithelium and otolithic membrane.
Sensory neuroepithelium
● It has hair cells and supporting cells.
● Supporting cells are tall columnar cells with basal nuclei. These cells produce
gelatinous otolith membrane.
● Each hair cell has numerous stereocilia at its free surface and one long cilium
called kinocilium.
● Both kinocilia and stereocilia are embedded in the otolith membrane.
● There are type I and type II hair cells. Type I hair cells are flask-shaped,
whereas type II cells are columnar.

Fig. 36.8: Section of cochlea.

 Box 36.1: Macula
Otolithic membrane
● It consists of a gelatinous membrane. It consists of gelatinous mass and
otoliths. Otoliths (otoconia or statoconia) are crystals of calcium carbonate with
organic protein matrix. They are multitude of small cylindrical and hexagonally
shaped bodies with pointed ends. They lie on the top of the gelatinous mass.
● The cilia of hair cells project into the gelatinous layer. They also have an
influence on body posture (through the vestibular nuclei).
Functions
● Macula is an organ of static balance. It appreciates position of head in
response to gravity and linear acceleration.
● Macula of saccule sense low frequencies of sound.

Fig. 36.8: Section of cochlea.

Box 36.3: Ampullary crests
● Ampulla of each semicircular ducts has elongated projection called ampullary crest.
● Long axis of the crest lies at right angles to that of the semicircular duct.
● Crest is lined by a columnar epithelium with hair and supporting cells (Fig. 36.9).
Hair cells
● Apical surface of hair cells has two types of hairs: Single large kinocilium and numerous stereocilia (large microvilli).
● Cupula: It is a conical gelatinous mass that covers hair cells. Hairs extend into cupula. Type I hair cells (inner hair
cell) are flask-shaped, whereas type II hair cells are columnar. Each hair cell is innervated by terminals of afferent
fibers of the vestibular nerve.
Supporting/sustentacular cells
● Supporting cells are elongated and may be shaped like hour glasses (narrow in the middle and wide at each end).
● They support the hair cells and provide them with nutrition.
● They may also modify the composition of endo-lymph.
Function
● Ampullary crests are stimulated by the movements of head.
● When the head moves, a current is produced in the endolymph of the semicircular ducts by inertia.
● This movement causes deflection of the cupula to one side distorting the hair cells and generates signals.
Fig. 36.9: Cells in the organ of Corti.
Fig. 36.10: Photomicrograph. Section of cochlea (high
magnification, H&E stain)
Fig. 36.11: Macula of utricle and
Fig. 36.12: Structure of ampullary crest.
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE
● It is 8th cranial nerve.
● It consists of two components as follows:
1. Vestibular nerve – for equilibrium
2. Cochlear nerve – for hearing
Functional components
● Special somatic afferent fibers: They carry sensory information of
1. Equilibrium to the vestibular nucleus of brainstem
2. Hearing to the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei located in pons.
Ganglion
● Vestibular or Scarpa’s ganglion is located on the vestibular nerve in the lateral part of the internal acoustic meatus. It consists of
bipolar neurons.
● Cochlear or spinal ganglion is located in modiolus. It also consists bipolar neurons.
Origin nerve
● Vestibulocochlear nerve is attached to the pontomedullary junction, lateral to the facial nerve.
Course and relations
● Vestibulocochlear nerve emerges at the pontomedullary junction and runs laterally to enter internal acoustic meatus along with
facial nerve and labyrinthine vessels.
● Vestibular part: As it is sensory nerve, the nerve begins from the macula of utricle, ampullary crests of semicircular canals, and
macula of saccule. These fibers are peripheral processes of bipolar neurons of vestibular ganglion. The central processes of
these neurons form vestibular nerve. The fibers terminate at the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem.
● Cochlear part begins from the organ of Corti. These are the peripheral processes of the bipolar of spiral ganglion. The central
processes of these neurons for cochlear nerve which terminates at the ventral and dorsal cochlear nuclei of pons.
Clinical integration
● Lesion of vestibulocochlear nerve may result in
1. Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
2. Impaired hearing (partial or complete)
3. Vertigo (loss of balance)
● Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that arises from the sheath of
vestibular nerve at cerebellopontine angle. It is one of the common
intracranial tumors. It may compress adjacent structures including
trigeminal, facial, and glossopharyngeal nerve, cerebellum, and medulla.
Thank you…