Tympanic cavity

Tympanic Cavity

The Tympanic Cavity (also known as the Middle Ear) is a small cavity surrounded by bone and located within the temporal bone of the skull. It is filled with air and connected to the nasopharynx by the Eustachian tube, and to the inner ear by the oval and round windows.

Anatomy

The tympanic cavity is a narrow space with a roof, floor, medial wall, lateral wall, anterior wall, and posterior wall. It is divided into two parts: the tympanic membrane (or eardrum) and the tympanic cavity proper.

Tympanic Membrane

The tympanic membrane is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. It is responsible for transmitting sound vibrations from the air to the bones of the middle ear.

Tympanic Cavity Proper

The tympanic cavity proper contains the three smallest bones in the human body, known as the ossicles. These are the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup), which are responsible for transmitting sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear.

Function

The primary function of the tympanic cavity is to transmit sound from the outer ear to the inner ear. The air-filled cavity provides a medium for this transmission, allowing the sound waves to move the ossicles and stimulate the fluid-filled inner ear.

Clinical Significance

Diseases and conditions that can affect the tympanic cavity include otitis media, tympanosclerosis, and cholesteatoma. These can lead to symptoms such as hearing loss, pain, and tinnitus.

See Also

• Ear
• Hearing
• Otitis media
• Tympanosclerosis
• Cholesteatoma

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