ears

• Outer Ear (External Ear)

  • Pinna (Auricle): The visible part of the ear that collects sound waves and directs them into the ear canal.
  • Ear Canal (External Auditory Meatus): A tube that channels sound waves from the pinna to the eardrum
  • Eardrum (Tympanic Membrane): A thin membrane that vibrates when sound waves hit it, converting sound energy into mechanical energy.
• Pinna (Auricle): The visible part of the ear that collects sound waves and directs them into the ear canal.
• Ear Canal (External Auditory Meatus): A tube that channels sound waves from the pinna to the eardrum.
• Eardrum (Tympanic Membrane): A thin membrane that vibrates when sound waves hit it, converting sound energy into mechanical energy.
• Middle Ear

  
  

  Ossicles: Three tiny bones that amplify and transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

  • Malleus (Hammer): Attached to the eardrum and moves with its vibrations.
  • Incus (Anvil): Connects the malleus to the stapes.
  • Stapes (Stirrup): Transmits vibrations to the oval window of the inner ear
  • Eustachian Tube: A tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, helping to equalize pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
• Ossicles: Three tiny bones that amplify and transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
• Malleus (Hammer): Attached to the eardrum and moves with its vibrations.
• Incus (Anvil): Connects the malleus to the stapes.
• Stapes (Stirrup): Transmits vibrations to the oval window of the inner ear.
• Eustachian Tube: A tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, helping to equalize pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
• Inner Ear

  
  

  Cochlea: A spiral-shaped organ that converts mechanical sound vibrations into electrical signals, which are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve.

  
  

  Semicircular Canals: Three looped tubes that help with balance by detecting head movements

  
  

  Vestibule: The central part of the inner ear, involved in balance and spatial orientation.
• Cochlea: A spiral-shaped organ that converts mechanical sound vibrations into electrical signals, which are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve.
• Semicircular Canals: Three looped tubes that help with balance by detecting head movements.
• Vestibule: The central part of the inner ear, involved in balance and spatial orientation.

   

   
• balance - vestibule
• hearing - cochlea
• Ossicle Movement: These vibrations are transmitted to the three tiny bones in the middle ear —the malleus, incus, and stapes —which amplify the sound.
• Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection)
• Tinnitus = The perception of ringing, buzzing, or other noises in the ear when no external sound is present.
• Meniere’s Disease - ·A disorder of the inner ear that causes episodes of vertigo (a spinning sensation), hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
• Hearing Loss - Partial or complete inability to hear, which can result from damage to the ear's structures, aging, noise exposure, infections, or genetic factors.
• Conductive Hearing Loss: Due to problems in the outer or middle ear (e.g., earwax blockage, ear infections
• o   Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Due to damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve (e.g., aging, noise exposure).
• Mixed Hearing Loss: A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
• Vertigo -

  
  

  A sensation of spinning or dizziness often related to inner ear issues, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or vestibular neuritis.

  
  

  Symptoms: Spinning sensation, dizziness, balance problems, nausea.
• Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear)

  An infection of the outer ear canal, often caused by bacteria or fungi due to moisture trapped in the ear, common in swimmers.
• Tympanic Membrane (ear drums ) - Pearly gray , semitransparent
• Weber’s Test- Sound is heard in both ears or is localized at the center of the head (Weber negative)
• Rinne’s Test - Air-conducted (AC) hearing is greater than bone-conducted (BC) hearing, i.e., AC > BC (positive Rinne)