Tympanic cavity

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

(Redirected from Tegmen tympani)

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Tympanic cavity Resources
Wikipedia
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD