eardrum
Sign in to saveIn 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.
AI overview
Your eardrum is a thin, cone-shaped membrane inside your ear that separates your outer ear from your middle ear and plays a crucial role in hearing. When sound waves hit it, the eardrum vibrates and passes these vibrations along to tiny bones in your middle ear, which then transmit them to the fluid-filled part of your ear that allows you to actually perceive sound.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Anatomy.Name
- Eardrum
- Anatomy.Latin
- membrana tympanica; myringa
- Anatomy.Image
- Blausen 0328 EarAnatomy.png
- Anatomy.Image2
- View-normal-tympanic-membrane.png
- Anatomy.Caption2
- Right eardrum as seen through a speculum
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
14 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Orientation and relations
- Regions
- Umbo
- Nerve supply
- Clinical significance
- Examination
- Rupture
- Surgical puncture for treatment of middle ear infections
- Society and culture
- See also
- Additional images
- References
- External links
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.
Rupture or perforation of the eardrum can lead to conductive hearing loss. Collapse or retraction of the eardrum can cause conductive hearing loss or cholesteatoma.