The anatomy of the ear is primarily divided into three parts.
- The auricle and external auditory canal
- The middle ear (eardrum, middle ear cavity, Eustachian tube)
- The inner ear (organ of hearing and balance)
Auricle: Composed of skin and cartilage. It directs sound into the external auditory canal
External auditory canal: It is approximately 2.5 cm long. The outer third is composed of cartilage, and the inner two-thirds are composed of bone.
Eardrum: It is a structure approximately 1 cm in diameter that separates the middle ear from the outer ear.
Middle ear cavity: The middle ear cavity contains the malleus, incus, and stapes bones. The middle ear is ventilated via the Eustachian tube.
Eustachian Tube: a structure approximately 3.5 cm long, located between the middle ear cavity and the nasopharynx.
Vestibular System: consists of the semicircular canals and the vestibule.
Hearing Organ: a spiral-shaped structure with approximately 2.5 turns.