General Anatomy 2

EAR

ANTITRAGUS
EAR
→another elevation
→organ of hearing and balance →opposite the tragus
→it has three parts →above the fleshy lobule
✓ External ear
✓ Middle ear ANTIHELIX
✓ Internal ear →smaller curved ring
→parallel and anterior to the helix

EXTERNAL EAR
• Auricle (pinna)
• External acoustic meatus

AURICLE
MUSCLES
→assists in capturing sound
→on the side of the head • Intrinsic muscles
→it consists of cartilage covered with skin and • Extrinsic muscles
arranged in a pattern of various elevations and o Facial nerve (VII)
depressions
INTRINSIC MUSCLES
HELIX →change the shape of the auricle
→large outside rim →between the cartilaginous parts of the auricle
→ends inferiorly at the fleshy lobule
EXTRINSIC MUSCLES
LOBULE →play a role in positioning the of the auricle
→only part of the auricle not supported by →anterior, superior, and posterior auricular
cartilage muscles
→pass from the scalp or skull to the auricle
CONCHA OF THE AURICLE
INNERVATION
→hollow center
GREATER AURICULAR NERVE
→the external acoustic meatus leaves from the
depths of this area →outer more superficial surfaces of the auricle
→anterior and posterior inferior portions
TRAGUS
LESSER OCCIPITAL NERVE
→elevation
→in front of concha →posterosuperior portion
→anterior to the opening of the external acoustic
MANDIBULAR NERVE
meatus
(Auriculotemporal branch)
→anterosuperior portion
 VAGUS NERVE EXTERNAL ACOUSTIC MEATUS
(Auricular branch) →covered with skin, contains hair, and modified
→deeper parts of the auricle sweat glands
→extends from the deepest part of the concha to
FACIAL NERVE the tympanic membrane
→deeper parts of the auricle
→sends a branch to the auricular branch of the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE
vagus nerve (eardrum)
VESSELS →distance of approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm)
→its walls consist of cartilage and bone

Lateral one third

- Formed from cartilaginous extensions from
some of the auricular cartilages

Medial two-thirds
- Bony tunnel in the temporal bone

CERUMEN
(ear wax)
→produced by the modified sweat glands
The external acoustic meatus does not follow a
straight course. From the central opening, it
passes upward in an anterior direction, then
turns slightly posteriorly still passing upward,
and finally, turns again in an anterior direction
• External carotid artery with a slight descent. For examination purposes,
• Superficial temporal artery observation of the external acoustic meatus and
• Occipital artery tympanic membrane can be improved by
pulling the ear superiorly, posteriorly, and
EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY slightly laterally
→supplies the posterior auricular artery

SUPERFICIAL TEMPORAL ARTERY

→supplies the anterior auricular branch

OCCIPITAL ARTERY
→supplies a branch

Venous drainage
- Through vessels following the arteries

Lymphatic drainage
Anteriorly:
- Parotid nodes
Posteriorly:
- Mastoid nodes
- Upper deep cervical nodes (possible)
INNERVATION
Major sensory input:
• Auriculotemporal nerve
• Mandibular nerve (V3)
• Auricular branch of the Vagus nerve (X)
Minor sensory input:
• Facial nerve (VII)
• Vagus nerve (X)

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 TYMPANIC MEMBRANE
→separates the external acoustic meatus from
the middle ear
→at an angle, sloping medially
→it consists of:
• Connective tissue core lined with skin, outside
• Mucous membrane, inside

INNERVATION
✓ On the outer surface of the tympanic
membrane
✓ On the inner surface of the tympanic
membrane

OUTER SURFACE
Primarily by:
o Auriculotemporal nerve (branch of the
mandibular nerve (V3)
Additional participation:
o Auricular branch of the Vagus nerve
FIBROCARTILAGINOUS RING (X)
Small contribution:
→around the periphery of the tympanic
o Facial nerve (VII) to the auricular
membrane
branch of the Vagus nerve (X)
o Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Handle of the malleus
(possible)
- Part of the malleus bone
INNER SURFACE
Umbo of the tympanic membrane
- Point of attachment o Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

Cone of light OTITIS MEDIA

- Bright reflection of light →colds and allergies
- Visible when examining the tympanic →swelling of the lining of the eustachian tube
membrane →impair normal drainage of fluid from the middle
- Anteroinferior to the umbo ear
→can lead to perforation of the tympanic
Lateral process membrane
- Small bulge →fluid builds up behind the tympanic membrane
- Most superior extent →this provides an attractive environment for
- Projects against the internal surface of the bacteria and viruses to grow
tympanic membrane
Can lead to:
Anterior and posterior malleolar folds ✓ Perforation of the tympanic membrane
- Extending away from the elevation ✓ Hearing loss
- On the internal surface ✓ Meningitis
✓ Brain abscess
Pars flaccida
- Thin and slack Eustachian tube
- Tympanic membrane - Links the middle ear and pharynx
- Balances the pressure between the outer and
Pars tensa middle ear
- Thick and taut
- The rest of the membrane

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 EXAMINATION OF THE EAR MIDDLE EAR
→carried out to asses hearing and balance
→further examination involves using an otoscope →air-filled, mucous membrane-lined space
or other imaging techniques →communicates with the mastoid area
posteriorly
→communicates with the nasopharynx via the
EXTERNAL EAR
pharyngotympanic tube anteriorly
→easily examined
→transmit vibrations of the tympanic membrane
→external acoustic meatus and tympanic
across the cavity of the middle ear to the internal
membrane require otoscopic examination
ear
→it is between the tympanic membrane laterally
Otoscope
and the lateral wall of the internal ear medially
- Device through which light can be shone
→it has three interconnected but movable bones
- Image magnified to inspect the external
that bridge the space between the tympanic
acoustic meatus and the tympanic membrane
membrane and the internal ear
✓ Malleus
NORMAL TYMPANIC MEMBRANE ✓ Incus
→translucent ✓ Stapes
→gray-reddish tinge
→handle of the malleus is visible near the center It has two parts:
of the membrane • Tympanic cavity
→cone of light is in the 5 o’clock position • Epitympanic recess

MIDDLE AND INNER EARS

→assessed through CT and MRI

SWIMMER’S EAR
(Otitis Externa)
→infection in the external acoustic meatus
→frequently occurs in swimmers

SURFER’S EAR
→prevalent among individuals who surf or swim in
cold water
→development of a bony lump in the external
acoustic meatus
→constricts the meatus
→reduces hearing in the affected ear

TYMPANIC MEMBRANE PERFORATION

→trauma and infection are the most common
causes
→the richer the blood supply to the posterior
aspect of the tympanic membrane determines the
standard surgical approach in the posteroinferior BOUNDARIES
aspect
• Roof
→it may damage the ossicular chain and other
• Floor
structures within the middle ear if infection
• Anterior wall
persists
• Posterior wall
→incision is always below the upper one-third of
• Medial wall
the tympanic membrane as the chorda tympani
• Lateral wall
runs into it.

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 TEGMENTAL WALL
(Roof)
→consists a thin layer of bone (tegmen tympani)
that separates the middle ear from the middle
cranial fossa

Tegmen tympani
- Layer of bone
- On the anterior surface of the petrous part of
the temporal bone

JUGULAR WALL
(Floor) PYRAMIDAL EMINENCE
→it is thickened by the presence of mastoid air
cells →small elevation
→ consists a thin layer of bone that separates it →where the tendon of the stapedius muscle enters
from the internal jugular vein the middle ear
→contains a small aperture near the medial
border, where these structure pass: OPENING
o Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) →where a branch of the facial nerve (VII), enters
(Tympanic branch) the middle ear
o Chorda tympani nerve
MEMBRANOUS WALL
(Lateral wall) ANTERIOR WALL
→consists almost entirely of the tympanic →only partially complete
membrane →the lower part consists of a thin layer of bone
→its upper part is the bony lateral wall of the that separates the tympanic cavity from the
epitympanic recess internal carotid artery

Superiorly, the wall is deficient because of the

presence of:
✓ Large opening
✓ Smaller opening

• The foramen for the exit of the chorda tympani

nerve from the middle ear is also associated
with this wall

LARGE OPENING
→for the entrance of the pharyngotympanic tube
into the middle ear

MASTOID WALL SMALLER OPENING

(Posterior wall) →for the canal containing the tensor tympani
→only partially complete muscle
→its lower part consists of a bony partition
between the tympanic cavity and mastoid air cells LABYRINTHINE WALL
→the epitympanic recess is continuous with the
(Medial wall)
aditus to the mastoid antrum, superiorly
→also, the lateral wall of the internal ear
→the promontory is the prominent structure in
Associated with the mastoid wall are:
this wall
• Pyramidal eminence
Other structures associated:
• Opening
• Two openings
• Oval window
• Round window
• Two prominent elevations

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Promontory MASTOID AREA
- Prominent structure →posterior to the epitympanic recess is the aditus
- Rounded bulge to the mastoid antrum
- Produced by the basal coil of the cochlea
Aditus to the mastoid antrum
Cochlea - Opening to the mastoid antrum
- Internal ear structure
- Involved with hearing Mastoid antrum
- Cavity
Tympanic plexus - Continuous with the mastoid cells throughout
- Associated with the mucous membrane the mastoid part of the temporal bone,
- Covers the promontory including the mastoid process
- Plexus of nerves - Separated from the middle cranial fossa by
It consists primarily of: only the thin tegmen tympani
o Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
(tympanic branch) Mastoid cells
o Branches from the internal carotid plexus - Collections of air-filled spaces
It supplies the: - Provide an excellent culture medium for
• Mucous membrane of the middle ear infection
• Mastoid area
• Pharyngotympanic tube
The mucous membrane lining the mastoid air
cells is continuous with the mucous membrane
o Lesser petrosal nerve
throughout the middle ear. Therefore, infections
- Branch of the tympanic plexus
in the middle ear can easily spread into the
- Leaves the promontory and middle ear
- Travels across the anterior surface of the mastoid area.
petrous part of the temporal bone
- Leaves the middle cranial fossa through the MASTOIDITIS
foramen ovale to enter the otic ganglion →infection within the mastoid antrum and
mastoid cells
OVAL WINDOW →secondary to infection in the middle ear
→infection to the bone (osteomyelitis) may also
→posterosuperior to the promontory
develop, spreading into the middle cranial fossa
→transfer vibrations initiated by the tympanic
→drainage of the pus within the mastoid air cells
membrane to the cochlea of the internal ear
is necessary
→breach of the inner table of the cranial vault
Footplate
may allow bacteria to enter the cranial cavity and
- Point of attachment for the base of the stapes
meningitis will ensue
- Ends the chains of bones

ROUND WINDOW
• When undertaking in this type of surgery, it is
extremely important that care is taken not to
→posteroinferior to the promontory damage the mastoid wall of the middle ear to
prevent injury to the facial nerve (VII).
PROMINENCE OF THE FACIAL CANAL
→Ridge of bone
→posterior and superior to the oval window on the
medial wall
→Produced by the facial nerve (VII) as it passes
through the temporal bone

PROMINENCE OF THE LATERAL SEMICURCULAR

CANAL
→broader ridge of bone
→ above and posterior to the prominence of the
facial canal
→produced by the lateral semicircular canal
→involved in detecting motion

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 PHARYNGOTYMPANIC TUBE TYMPANIC PLEXUS
→connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx →continuous with the mucous membrane lining
→equalizes pressure on both sides of the the tympanic cavity, internal surface of the
tympanic membrane tympanic membrane, and the mastoid antrum
→its opening is on the anterior wall and mastoid cells.
→receives its major contribution from the
It consists of: tympanic nerve
• Bony part
• Cartilaginous part Tympanic nerve
- Branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

AUDITORY OSSICLES
• Malleus
• Incus
• Stapes

- They form an osseus chain across the middle

ear from the tympanic membrane to the oval
window of the internal ear
- Muscles associated with the ossicles modulate
movement during the transmission of
vibrations

MALLEUS
→largest
→attached to the tympanic membrane

• Head of the malleus

BONY PART • Neck of the malleus
→one-third nearest the middle ear • Anterior and lateral processes
→its opening is clearly visible on the inferior • Handle of the malleus
surface of the skull at the junction of the squamous
and petrous parts of the temporal bone HEAD OF THE MALLEUS
→immediately posterior to the foramen ovale and →rounded upper part of the malleus in the
foramen spinosum epitympanic recess
→its posterior surface articulates with the incus
CARTILAGINOUS PART
→remaining two-thirds NECK OF THE MALLEUS
→constricted
VESSELS →inferior to the head of the malleus
Arterial supply to the pharyngotympanic tube
arises from: ANTERIOR PROCESS
• Ascending pharyngeal artery
→below the neck
• Middle meningeal artery
→attached to the anterior wall of the middle ear
• Artery of the pterygoid canal
by a ligament
ASCENDING PHARYNGEAL ARTERY
LATERAL PROCESS
→branch of the external carotid artery
→below the neck
INNERVATION →attached to the anterior and posterior malleolar
folds of the tympanic membrane
→tympanic plexus innervates the mucous
membrane lining of the pharyngotympanic tube
HANDLE OF THE MALLEUS
→downward extension of the malleus
→below the anterior and lateral processes
→attached to the tympanic membrane

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 MUSCLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OSSICLES
• Tensor tympani
• Stapedius

TENSOR TYMPANI
→pulls the handle of the malleus medially
→tenses the tympanic membrane
→reduces the force of vibrations in response to
loud noises
→lies in a bony canal above the
pharyngotympanic tube
- Cartilaginous part of
ORIGIN pharyngotympanic tube
- Greater wing of sphenoid
- Its own bony canal
INCUS
INSERTION - Upper part of handle of
• Body of the incus
malleus
• Long limb
o Branch of the Mandibular nerve (V3)
• Short limb
STAPEDIUS
ENLARGED BODY
→very small muscle
→articulates with the head of the malleus →pulls the stapes posteriorly in response to loud
→in the epitympanic recess noises
→prevents excessive oscillation
LONG LIMB
ORIGIN - Attached to inside of
→extends downward from the body pyramidal eminence
→parallel to the handle of the malleus INSERTION - Neck of stapes
→ends by bending medially to articulate with the o Branch of Facial nerve (VII)
stapes

SHORT LIMB
→extends posteriorly
→attached by a ligament to the upper posterior
wall of the middle ear

STAPES
→most medial bone in the osseous chain
→attached to the oval window

• Head of the stapes

• Anterior and Posterior limbs
• Base of the stapes Pyramidal eminence
- Small projection on the mastoid wall
HEAD
VESSELS
→directed laterally
→articulates with the long process of the incus Largest branches:
• Tympanic branch of the maxillary artery
TWO LIMBS • Mastoid branch of the occipital or posterior
auricular arteries
→separate from each other Smaller branches:
→attach to the oval base • Middle meningeal artery
• Ascending pharyngeal artery
BASE
• Artery of the pterygoid canal
→fits into the oval window on the labyrinthine wall • Tympanic branches from the internal carotid
of the middle ear artery

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 VENOUS DRAINAGE OF THE MIDDLE EAR →exits the middle cranial fossa through the
→returns to the pterygoid plexus of veins and the foramen ovale
superior petrosal sinus →enters the otic ganglion once it is outside the
skull
INNERVATION
TYMPANIC PLEXUS
→formed by the tympanic nerve
→occurs in the mucous membrane covering the
promontory
→gives off a major branch, the lesser petrosal
nerve

It innervates:
✓ Mucous membrane lining the walls
✓ Contents of the middle ear
✓ Mastoid area
✓ Pharyngotympanic tube

Promontory
- Rounded bulge on the labyrinthine wall of the
middle ear

INTERNAL EAR
→consists a series of bony cavities and
membranous ducts and sacs

TYMPANIC NERVE
→branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) and
from branches of the internal carotid plexus
→gives off by the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) as it
exits the skull through the jugular foramen
→forms the tympanic plexus once in the middle
ear, along with branches from the plexus of nerves
surrounding the internal carotid artery
BONY LABYRINTH
Caroticotympanic nerves →series of bony cavities
- Branches from the plexus of nerves →in the petrous part of the temporal bone
surrounding the internal carotid artery
• Vestibule
LESSER PETROSAL NERVE • Semicircular canals
→leaves the area of the promontory and exits the • Cochlea
middle ear - These bony cavities are lined with periosteum
→travels through the petrous part of the temporal and contain perilymph
bone
→exits onto the anterior surface of the petrous Perilymph
part of the temporal bone through a hiatus - Clear fluid
→continues diagonally across the anterior surface
of the temporal bone

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 VESTIBULE Lamina of the modiolus or Spiral lamina
→contains the oval window in its lateral wall - Extends laterally throughout the length of the
→central part of the bony labyrinth modiolus
→communicates anteriorly with the cochlea - thin lamina of bone
→communicates posteriorly with the semicircular
canals through the temporal bone to open the Cochlear duct
posterior surface of the petrous part of the - circling around the modiolus
temporal bone - held in a central position by its attachment to
the lamina of the modiolus
- attached peripherally to the outer wall of
VESTIBULAR ACQUEDUCT cochlea, it creates two canals:
→narrow canal
• Scala vestibuli
→passes
• Scala tympani
SEMICIRCULAR CANALS - Extend throughout the cochlea
- Continuous with each other at the apex
• Anterior through the helicotrema
• Posterior
• Lateral semicircular canal Helicotrema
- Narrow slit
→each of these canals forms two-thirds of a circle
connected at both ends of the vestibule
→one end is dilated to form the ampulla
→canals are oriented, each canal is at right angle
to the other two

COCHLEAR CANALICULUS
→small channel
→near the round window
→passes through the temporal bone
→opens on its inferior surface into the posterior
COCHLEA cranial fossa
→bony structure that twists on itself two and one- →provides a connection between the perilymph-
half to two and three-quarter times around the containing cochlea and the subarachnoid space
modiolus
→projects in an anterior direction from the MEMBRANOUS LABYRINTH
vestibule →continuous system of ducts and sacs within the
→this arrangement produces a cone-shaped bony labyrinth
structure →filled with endolymph
→base of the cochlea faces posteromedially and →separated from the periosteum that covers the
near the internal acoustic meatus walls of the bony labyrinth by perilymph
→entered by branches of the cochlear part of the →has unique functions related to balance and
vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) hearing
→apex faces anterolaterally →consists of two sacs
• Utricle
• Saccule
Modiolus →contains four ducts
- Central column of bone • Three semicircular ducts
• Cochlear duct

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 ENDOLYMPHATIC DUCT
Organs of balance →branches from the utriculosaccular duct
• Utricle →enters the vestibular aqueduct to emerge onto
• Saccule the posterior surface of the petrous part of the
• Three semicircular ducts temporal bone in the posterior cranial fossa

Organ of hearing Vestibular aqueduct

• Cochlear duct - Channel through the temporal bone

Endolymphatic sac
- Where the endolymphatic duct expands
- Extradural pouch
- Functions in resorption of endolymph

SENSORY RECEPTORS
→organized into unique structures that are
located in each of the components of the
vestibular apparatus

MACULA OF THE UTRICLE

ORGANS OF BALANCE →sense organ for utricle and saccule
• Utricle
• Saccule CRISTA
• Anterior semicircular duct →ampulla of each of the three semicircular ducts
• Posterior semicircular duct
• Lateral semicircular duct
ORGAN OF HEARING
COCHLEAR DUCT
UTRICLE
→triangular-shaped
→larger →has a central position in the cochlea of the bony
→oval labyrinth
→elongated and irregular in shape →divides into two canals
→responds to linear acceleration in the horizontal • Scala vestibuli
plane and sideways head tilts • Scala tympani
→in the posterosuperior part of the vestibule of →maintained in this position by being attached
the bony labyrinth centrally to the lamina of the modiolus

THREE SEMICIRCULAR DUCTS It has a:

→empty into the utricle • Outer wall
→each are similar in shape • Roof
→respond to rotational movement in any direction • Floor
→dilated end forming the ampulla
OUTER WALL
SACCULE →it consists a spiral ligament
→smaller
→rounded sac Spiral ligament
→responds to linear acceleration in the horizontal - Thickened
plane - Epithelial-lined periosteum
→forward-backward and upward-downward
movement VESTIBULAR MEMBRANE (ROOF)
→lies in the anteroinferior part of the vestibule →separates the endolymph in the cochlear duct
→where cochlear duct empties from the perilymph in the Scala vestibuli
→consists of a membrane with a connective tissue
UTRICULOSACCULAR DUCT core lined on either side with epithelium
→establishes continuity between all components
of the membranous labyrinth
→connects the utricle and saccule

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FLOOR VESSELS SUPPLYING THE MEMBRANOUS LABYRINTH
→separates the endolymph in the cochlear duct o Labyrinthine artery
from the perilymph in the Scala tympani →either arises from the Anteroinferior cerebellar
→consists of the free edge of the lamina of the artery or a direct branch of the Basilar artery
modiolus and the basilar membrane →enters the internal acoustic meatus with the
Facial nerve (VII) and Vestibulocochlear nerve
Basilar membrane (VIII)
- Extends from this free edge of the lamina of
the modiolus to an extension of the spiral It eventually divides into:
ligament • Cochlear branch
- Covers the outer wall of the cochlea • Vestibular branches

COCHLEAR BRANCH
→passes through the modiolus

It supplies the:
✓ Cochlear duct

VESTIBULAR BRANCHES
It supplies the:
✓ Vestibular apparatus

VENOUS DRAINAGE
It is through the:
• Vestibular veins
• Cochlear veins
→they follow the arteries
→these veins come together to form the
labyrinthine vein

SPIRAL ORGAN LABYRINTHINE VEIN

→organ of hearing →empties into either the inferior petrosal sinus or
→rests on the basilar membrane the sigmoid sinus
→projects into the enclosed endolymph-filled
cochlear duct INNERVATION
VESTICULOCOCHLEAR NERVE
VESSELS →carries special afferent fibers for:
Vessels supplying the: ✓ Hearing (cochlear component)
• Bony labyrinth ✓ Balance (vestibular component)
• Membranous labyrinth →enters the lateral surface of the brainstem,
between the pons and medulla
VESSELS SUPPLYING THE BONY LABYRINTH →exits the temporal bone through the internal
acoustic meatus and crossing the posterior cranial
→supplied by the same arteries that supply the
fossa
surrounding temporal bone
→inside the temporal bone, at the distal end of the
o Anterior tympanic branch from the
internal acoustic meatus, the nerve divides to
Maxillary nerve (V2)
form:
o Stylomastoid branch from the
• Cochlear nerve
Posterior auricular artery
o Petrosal branch from the Middle • Vestibular nerve
meningeal artery
VESTIBULAR NERVE
→enlarges to form the vestibular ganglion, before
dividing into superior and inferior parts
→distribute to the three semicircular ducts and
the utricle and saccule

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 COCHLEAR NERVE NERVE TO STAPEDIUS AND CHORDA TYMPANI
→enters the base of the cochlea and passes →small branch of the Facial nerve
upward through the modiolus →it gives off the Chorda tympani nerve before it
→its ganglion cells are in the spiral ganglion at the exits the skull
base of the lamina of the modiolus as it winds
around the modiolus It innervates the:
→its branches pass through the lamina of the ✓ Stapedius muscle
modiolus

It innervates the:
✓ Receptors in the spiral organ

FACIAL NERVE (VII) IN THE TEMPORAL BONE

→closely associated with the Vestibulocochlear
nerve (VIII) as it enters the internal acoustic
meatus
→its path and several of its branches are directly
related to the internal and middle ears
→enters the internal acoustic meatus in the
petrous part of the temporal bone
→it is accompanied by the vestibulocochlear
nerve and labyrinthine artery
→at the distal end of the internal acoustic meatus, CHORDA TYMPANI
it enters the facial canal
→continues laterally between the internal and →does not immediately exit the temporal bone
middle ears →ascends to enter the middle ear through its
→the facial nerve enlarges and bends posteriorly posterior wall
and laterally →passes near the upper aspect of the tympanic
→exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen membrane between the malleus and incus
→exits the middle ear through a canal leading to
Geniculate ganglion the petrotympanic fissure
- The enlargement of the facial nerve →exits the skull through the petrotympanic fissure
to join the lingual nerve in the infratemporal fossa

TRANSMISSION OF SOUND
→sound wave enters the external acoustic meatus
and strikes the tympanic membrane moving it
medially
→handle of the malleus moves medially
→head of the malleus and incus moves laterally
→long process of the incus is pushed medially
→these actions complete the transfer of a large-
amplitude, low-force, air-borne wave that vibrates
the tympanic membrane into a small-amplitude
→high-force vibration of the oval window, which
BRANCHES
GREATER PETROSAL NERVE
generates a wave in the fluid-filled Scala vestibuli
of the cochlea
→gave off by the Facial nerve at the geniculate
→the wave established in the perilymph of the
ganglion
Scala vestibuli moves through the cochlea
→first branch of the Facial nerve
→it causes an outward bulging of the second
→leaves the geniculate ganglion, travels
tympanic membrane covering the round window
anteromedially through the temporal bone
at the lower end of the Scala tympani
→emerges through the hiatus for the greater
→it causes the basilar membrane to vibrate
petrosal nerve on the anterior surface of the
→it leads to stimulation of receptor cells in the
petrous part of the temporal bone
spiral organ
→carries preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to
the pterygopalatine ganglion

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 RECEPTOR CELLS
→send impulses back to the brain through the
cochlear part of the Vestibulocochlear nerve
→where they are interpreted as sound

• If the sounds are too loud, it causes excessive

movement of the tympanic membrane
• Contraction of the Tensor tympani or
stapedius muscle dampens the vibrations of
the ossicles
• it decreases the force of the vibrations
reaching the oval window

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