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Parts of the Ear Canal

The human ear is an important sensory organ aiding us in our hearing and balance. Each ear can be divided anatomically into three different parts--the outer, middle and inner. The three parts of the ear all respond to sound and movement in different ways. The outer (external) and middle ear gather and transmit sound waves. The inner ear houses the organ of hearing and helps us maintain our balance.

  1. Outer Ear

    • The cartilage that makes up the visible part of the ear is known as the pinna (or auricle). The pinna serves to collect and funnel environmental sounds toward the eardrum in the middle ear. A thin sheet of elastic cartilage and a lower portion called the lobule make up the appearance of the outer ear. The pinna is attached to the side of the head by ligaments and muscles.

    Middle Ear

    • The middle ear is an air-filled cavity within the temporal bone of the skull. It contains the eardrum and three small bones, known as ossicles, that help transmit sound to the oval window of the inner ear. The middle ear is a small chamber measuring 0.5 cm by 1 cm in length. The Tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, divides the middle ear from the outer ear.

    Inner Ear

    • The inner ear, also known as the labyrinth because of its contorted shape, contains the organ of balance (known as the vestibule) and the organ of hearing (known as the cochlea). The inner ear can be divided into an outer bony labyrinth and an inner membranous labyrinth. The cochlea is a bony spiral canal, wound around a central pillar. Within the cochlea are hair cells and hearing receptors.

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