Otology

In the anatomy of humans and various other tetrapods, the eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane or myringa, is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. Its function is to transmit changes in pressure of sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear, and thence to the oval window in the fluid-filled cochlea. The ear thereby converts and amplifies vibration in the air to vibration in cochlear fluid. The malleus bone bridges the gap between the eardrum and the other ossicles.

bones situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum

The malleus, or hammer, is a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear. It connects with the incus, and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum. The word is Latin for 'hammer' or 'mallet'. It transmits the sound vibrations from the eardrum to the incus (anvil).

small sound amplifiers worn in the ear (ITE) to compensate for hearing loss

otitis, processo that involves inflammation and accumulation of fluid of the middle ear

thumb|3D model of cochlea and semicircular canals The cochlea is the part of the inner ear involved in hearing. It is a spiral-shaped cavity in the bony labyrinth, in humans making 2.75 turns around its axis, the modiolus. A core component of the cochlea is the organ of Corti, the sensory organ of hearing, which is distributed along the partition separating the fluid chambers in the coiled tapered tube of the cochlea.

The incus (: incudes) or anvil in the ear is one of three small bones (ossicles) in the middle ear. The incus receives vibrations from the malleus, to which it is connected laterally, and transmits these to the stapes medially. The incus is named for its resemblance to an anvil ().

disorder of the inner ear, characterized by potentially severe and incapacitating episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear

The stapes or stirrup is a bone in the middle ear of humans and other tetrapods which is involved in the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear. This bone is connected to the oval window by its annular ligament, which allows the footplate (or base) to transmit sound energy through the oval window into the inner ear. The stapes is the smallest and lightest bone in the human body, and is so-called because of its resemblance to a stirrup ().

part of the ear that lies between the eardrum and the oval window

innermost part of the vertebrate ear

tube found in the middle ear which equalises pressure and drains mucus, connecting the middle ear to the throat

prosthesis used for severe and profound hearing loss

The ossicles (also called auditory ossicles) are three irregular bones in the middle ear of humans and other mammals, and are among the smallest bones in the human body. Although the term "ossicle" literally means "tiny bone" (from ) and may refer to any small bone throughout the body, it typically refers specifically to the malleus, incus and stapes ("hammer, anvil, and stirrup") of the middle ear.

sensory system used for hearing

alt=Image showing an audiologist testing the hearing of a patient inside a hearing booth and using an audiometer|thumb|upright=1.3|Audiological exam

the outer portion of the ear which includes the auricle and the ear canal and leads to the eardrum

type of mechanoreceptor

Mastoiditis is the result of an infection that extends to the air cells of the skull behind the ear. Specifically, it is an inflammation of the mucosal lining of the mastoid antrum and mastoid air cell system inside the mastoid process. The mastoid process is the portion of the temporal bone of the skull that is behind the ear. The mastoid process contains open, air-containing spaces. Mastoiditis is usually caused by untreated acute otitis media (middle ear infection) and used to be a leading cause of child mortality. With the development of antibiotics, however, mastoiditis has become quite r

Otosclerosis is a condition of the middle and inner ear where portions of the dense enchondral layer of the bony labyrinth]] remodel into one or more lesions of irregularly-laid spongy bone. As the lesions reach the stapes the bone is resorbed, then hardened (sclerotized), which limits its movement and results in hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo or a combination of these. The term otosclerosis is something of a misnomer: much of the clinical course is characterized by lucent rather than sclerotic bony changes, so the disease is also known as otospongiosis.

tube located inside the ear

Hyperacusis is an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise. Definitions of hyperacusis can vary significantly; it often revolves around damage to or dysfunction of the stapes bone, stapedius muscle or tensor tympani. It is often categorized into four subtypes: loudness, pain (also called noxacusis), annoyance, and fear. It can be a highly debilitating hearing disorder.

tube running from the outer ear to the middle ear

small cavity surrounding the bones of the middle ear

Cholesteatoma is a destructive and expanding growth consisting of keratinizing squamous epithelium in the middle ear and/or mastoid process. Cholesteatomas are not cancerous as the name may suggest, but can cause significant problems because of their erosive and expansile properties. This can result in the destruction of the bones of the middle ear (ossicles), as well as growth through the base of the skull into the brain. They often become infected and can result in chronically draining ears. Treatment almost always consists of surgical removal.

pain in the ear

conduction of sound to the inner ear through bones other than the ossicles of the middle ear

thumb|Ear inspection

an injury leading to a hole in the eardrum

range of frequencies that can be heard by humans or other animals

Tympanometry is an acoustic evaluation of the condition of the middle ear eardrum (tympanic membrane) and the conduction bones by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.

type of hearing loss

nerve carrying auditory information from the inner ear to the brain

eustachian tube disorder

canal within the temporal bone

A myringotomy is a surgical procedure in which an incision is created in the eardrum (tympanic membrane) to relieve pressure caused by excessive buildup of fluid, or to drain pus from the middle ear. A tympanostomy tube may be inserted through the eardrum to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged time and to prevent reaccumulation of fluid. Without the insertion of a tube, the incision usually heals spontaneously within two to three weeks. Depending on the type, the tube is either naturally extruded in 6 to 12 months or removed during a minor procedure.

Neurotology or neuro-otology is a subspecialty of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery, also known as ENT (ear, nose, and throat) medicine. Neuro-otology is closely related to otology, clinical neurology and neurosurgery.

air-filled cavities in the temporal bone

anatomical structure

anatomic element

process

one of the perilymph-filled cavities in the human inner ear

air space in the petrous portion of the temporal bone

Posterior part of the temporal bone

two cranial nerve nuclei of the human brainstem

medical condition

A mastoidectomy is a procedure performed to remove the mastoid air cells near the middle ear. The procedure is part of the treatment for mastoiditis, chronic suppurative otitis media or cholesteatoma. Additionally, it is sometimes performed as part of other procedures, such as cochlear implants, or to access the middle ear.

evolutionary event in which bones in the jaw of reptiles were co-opted to form part of the hearing apparatus in mammals

sound-induced vertigo

German engineer (1876-1950)

test used in otolaryngology to help assess whether a patient has a vestibular pathology

branch of audiology that employs techniques from mathematics and computer science to improve clinical treatments and scientific understanding of the auditory system

representation of auditory sensation and perception in the nervous system

hearing aid and medical implant

component of the auditory system