Middle Ear

Middle Ear

The Middle Ear is the portion of the ear that lies just behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and up to the oval window. It is an air-filled cavity (tympanic cavity) that contains the three smallest bones in the human body, collectively known as the ossicles. These bones transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

Anatomy

The middle ear is located in the temporal bone of the skull and is an irregular, narrow space. It is divided into two sections: the tympanic cavity and the epitympanic recess. The tympanic cavity is a small, air-filled space that houses the ossicles. The epitympanic recess is a superior portion of the middle ear, containing part of the malleus and incus.

Ossicles

The ossicles are the three tiny bones of the middle ear: the malleus, incus, and stapes. They are the smallest bones in the human body. These bones form a chain that transmits sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

Function

The primary function of the middle ear is to transmit sound from the outer ear to the inner ear. The ossicles amplify the sound vibrations and transmit them to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening to the inner ear.

Clinical significance

Diseases of the middle ear can lead to hearing loss. Common conditions include otitis media, which is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear, and otitis media with effusion, which is fluid accumulation in the middle ear. Other conditions that can affect the middle ear include cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, and tympanosclerosis.

See also

• Eardrum
• Eustachian tube
• Hearing loss
• Otitis media

Middle Ear Resources
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