EMBRYOLOGICAL

DEVELOPMENT OF THE
EAR
By
Sarita rautara

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 References

• Hearing in children, J. L. Northern & M.P.

Downs, 4th edition.
• Speech and hearing sciences anatomy and
physiology, W.R.Zemlin, 3rd edition.

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• Theword embryo has come from a Greek word
meaning “to swell” and study of embryo is
known as Embryology.

•A developing baby during its first 8 weeks of

gestation is known as embryo.

• Major changes in the development of the ear

take place in the mother’s womb, first as an
embryo and later as a fetus. However
development of auditory structures doesn’t stop
nor is it totally completed at the time of birth.

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 RELEVANCE TO AUDIOLOGY

• An understanding of embryologic development & its

relationship helps the audiologist for early identification,
intervention & prevention.
• The timetable of prenatal development & the
association of the various structures with each other
helps the audiologist for raising suspicion of deafness,
its subsequent diagnosis & management.
• Knowledge of the origins of auditory structures can be
diagnostically significant to the clinician. E.g.: An infant
presents with a congenital skin disorder, anomalies of
the cochlea could be present, as the skin and otocyst
both originate from the structure called ectoderm.

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• The timing of development of the various organ
systems guides the clinician about the
occurrence of HL. E.g.: A noxious influence
occurring at 2 months of gestation may result in
malformation of pinna that is developing at that
time.
• However, the pinna malformation doesn’t
necessarily imply malformation of the middle ear
ossicles, although they are also developing at the
same time but the origins of the structures are
different.
• Prognosis of auditory function can be estimated
from the origin & the expected pathology.

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 BASIC EMBRYOLOGY

• All growth is the result of cell division of the pre-

existing cell called zygote.

• A zygote is a cell which is an ovum fertilized by

sperm.

• This zygote/pre-existence cell gets divided into 2

main cells through the process called mitosis.

• Thus mitosis results in the changes in the nucleus of

a cell which produces a specific no. of double
structures i.e. the cell & nucleus then subdivided into
2 identical daughter cells.
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• Organization in the embryo stimulates
development of associated areas & creates
specific differentiation of cells during the
developmental process.

• One of the earliest organizational developments

of embryo is the formation of 3 super-imposed
cellular plates known as ‘germ layers’.

• Each of these layers is also a key structure for

development of the various portions & part of
the ear & the auditory system.

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GERM LAYERS STRUCTURES

Ectodermal It is associated with the development

Outer layer of outer & inner portion of the
ear.
Mesodermal It is associated with the development
Middle layer of Middle ear ossicles &bony
labyrinth.

Endodermal It is associated with the development

Inner layer of Middle ear structures other than
ossicles such as Tympanic membrane ,
Eustachian tube, Middle ear muscles.
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 EMBRYOLOGY OF THE EAR
• The ear begins its development during the early life of
embryo, i.e. at about 25 hours of the embryonic
development, when embryonic disc splits & leads to the
formation of a structure called primitive groove.
• Primitive groove is underlined by ectoderm layer.
• This primitive groove then further develops into a structure
called ‘primitive pit’ which ultimately results to form the
‘neural groove’ & ‘neural fold’.
• This neural fold along with the neural grooves come together
to form a structure called ‘neural tube’.
• This neural tube remarks the beginning of the ear
development.

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Development of the inner ear:
• The earliest demarcation of the ear in the human embryo
occurs as early as in the 3rd week of gestation.
• At this time there is thickening of the superficial ectoderm
on the either side of the ‘open neural plate’.
• Each thickening are known as auditory/otic placodes which
are the obvious by middle of 3rd week of gestation.

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• Around 23rd day of gestation, the auditory placodes
get mixed with the surface ectoderm & forms
auditory/otic pits.

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• Around 30th day of gestation the mouth of each
auditory pit closes off & forms a structure called
auditory vesicle and otocyst which remarks the
development of the inner ear.

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• The auditory vesicle takes elongated shape which is
divided into 2 parts i.e.
1. Utricular-saccule area
2. Tubular extension / Endolymphatic duct
• By 4½ weeks of gestation, the portion of auditory vesicle
get connected to the endolymphatic duct which is the
future vestibular apparatus of membranous labyrinth,
whereas there is more slender portion of the auditory
vesicle begins to form the future cochlea which is
originated from the saccular area.

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• At the end of 6th week of gestation, 3 arch like pockets
are visible which are destined to form future of 3
semicircular canal.
• At the same time, utricle and saccule are developed as
a part of vestibular portion of the auditory system.

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• By the end of the 7th week of gestation, the
elongated portion of the saccule of the auditory
vesicle completes one turn / one coil of the future
cochlea.

• The2½ turns / 2¾ turns of cochlea get

completed from 8-11th week of gestation.

• Atthis time, the cochlear duct gets attached to

vestibular portion by means of narrow tube called
‘ductus reuniens’.

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• During8-11 weeks of gestation, the cochlear division
of the 8th nerve coils of the cochlear duct i.e. it
supplies its fiber to the cochlear duct.

• During the 7th week of gestation the bony labyrinth

continue to developed into sensory end organs with
the appearance of localized thickening of epithelium
layers in the utricle & saccule.

• Similar localized epithelial thickening in the

ampullated ends of the semicircular canals during the
8th week of gestation.

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• This epithelium thickening shows the differentiation
into 2 types of cell .i.e.
1. Sensory cells with bristle like hairs (OHC & IHC)
2. Supporting cells (Dieter cells)

• However complete maturation of these cells in cochlea

doesn’t occur until 5th month of gestation when entire
cochlear duct results considerable growth &
expansion.

• The membranous labyrinth of the inner ear reaches its

full adult configuration by the early part of the 3rd
month of gestation.

• At this time the otic capsule / bony labyrinth gets

started / begins to ossify.

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• 11th week of gestation :

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• Thus the inner ear is the only sense organ in the
entire human body to reach full adult size &
differentiation by fetal midterm means 5 months of
pregnancy.

• However it should be noted that, the cochlear

portion of the inner ear is the last inner ear end
organ to differentiate and mature.

• Thus the cochlea may be subject to more possible

developmental deviations, malformations, acquired
disease than the vestibular end organs.

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FETAL WEEK INNER EAR
3rd Auditory placodes ;auditory pits.
4th Auditory vesicle (otocyst); vestibular cochlear
division.
6th Utricle & saccular present; semicircular canals
begin.
7th One cochlear coil present; sensory cells in utricle
& saccule.
8th Ductus reuniens present; sensory cells in
semicircular canals.
11th Two & one-half cochlear coils present; nerve VIII
attaches to cochlear duct.
12th Sensory cells in cochlea; membranous labyrinth
complete; otic capsule begins to ossify.
20th Maturation of inner ear; inner ear becomes adult
size.
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Development of the middle ear :

• During the time when the inner ear is developing, at

the same time the transmission portion of the auditory
mechanism is developed as the middle ear.

• Middle ear develops from endodermal structure.

• Middle ear cavity begins its development during the 3rd

week of gestation, when the auditory pit is sinking into
neural plate to become the auditory vesicle.

• The tympanic cavity & auditory tube originate from an

elongation of the lateral superior edge of the 1st
pharyngeal pouch known as ‘tubo-tympanic recess’.

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• By that time, the human embryo is in its 4th week of
gestation when a series of 5 branchial grooves known
as “gill slits” have appeared.

• These grooves are in the lower head & neck region on

the outside of the embryo.

• At the same time, on the inside of embryo a

corresponding series of 5 phryngeal pouches develops
& these structures collectively identified as ‘arches’.

• In fish, these grooves are ultimately meets the

corresponding pouches to form gills as a part of their
respiratory mechanism whereas in humans one of the
gill pouches does actually become perforated forming
a passage way which becomes the external ear canal &
the eustachian tube.

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Pharyngeal pouches

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• The tympanic membrane forms a barrier between
these 2 portions of the passage-way.

• Occasionally , an additional opening will occur forming

a structure called ‘cervical fistula’ or ‘branchial cyst’
which an opening on the throat between pharynx &
the surface of the neck.

• During the 2nd month, the tubo-tympanic recess

approaches the embryo, surface between the 1st &
2nd branchial arches known as Meckel’s /
Mandibular and Reichert’s /Hyoid cartilages,
respectively.

• By the 8th week of gestation the tympanic cavity is

developed in the lower half of the future middle
ear, while the upper half is filled with ‘cellular
mesenchyme’.
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• According to the classical theory of ossicles origin,
malleus & incus develops from Meckel’s cartilage while
stapes developed from Reichert’s cartilage.

• According to Pearson et al (1970) suggests the most of

the part of malleus & incus are originated from the 1st
branchial arch while the lenticular process of the incus,
the handle of malleus & the stapes originates from 2nd
branchial arch.

• Thus the middle ear cavity has a dual origin with the
anterior area developing from the 1st arch while the
posterior area from the 2nd arch.

• The incus & malleus have attained a complete

cartilaginous form like an adult by 8½ weeks, whereas
stapes attained the same by 15th week of gestation.

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• The ossification of malleus & incus begins by end of the 15th
week of gestation & reach its completion by 32nd week of
gestation.

• However, the ossification of stapes begins by 18th week & it

continue to develop further during the life.

• As the ossicles begin to ossify, the surrounding mesenchymal

tissue becomes loose, less cellular, & connects each ossicle
to the walls of the middle ear cavity.

• While the 30th week of gestation the development of the

tympanum proper is almost complete.

• The middle ear cavity with antrum is pneumatized during

the last 34th to 35th week of gestation.

• While the epitympanum is pneumatized during the last fetal

month 36th to 38th week of gestation.
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FETAL WEEK MIDDLE EAR
3rd Tubotympanic recess begins to develop.
4th 5 branchial grooves known as “gill slits” have appeared.
8th Incus & malleus present In cartilage;
Lower half of tympanic cavity formed.
9th 3 tissue layers at tympanic membrane are present.
15th Cartilagenous stapes formed.
16th Ossification of malleus & incus begins.
18th Stapes begins to ossify.
21st Meatal plug disintegrates exposing tympanic membrane.
30th Pneumatization of tympanum
32nd Malleus & incus completes ossification.
34th Mastoid air cells develop.
35th Antrum is pneumatized.
37th Epitympanum is pneumatized; stapes continues to develop
until adulthood; tympanic membrane changes relative position
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during 1st 2 yrs of life.
Development of the outer ear:
• 2 main parts of outer ear i.e.
1. Auricle / pinna
2. External Auditory Meatus (EAM)

• Auricle develops from the 1st & 2nd branchial

arches during the 3rd or 4th week of gestation.

• However, the auricle actually derived primarily

from 2nd branchial arch while only tragus seems
to originate from the 1st branchial arch.

• This is occurring at the same time, when

auditory vesicle is formed in the development of
inner ear.
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• During the 6th week of gestation 6 hillocks or tissue
thickenings form on both sides of the 1st branchial
groove.

• They are arranged as 3 hillocks on each facing

border.

• The ultimate shape & configuration of the adult

auricle depends on the development of these 6th
growth centers / hillocks.

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• During the 6th week of gestation, the ‘mesenchymal
folds’ of the auricle are beginning to become
cartilage.

• From the 7th to 20th week of gestation, the auricle

moves from its original ventro-medial position to be
slowly displaced laterally, so as get match to growth
of mandible & face.

• At the 20th week of gestation, the auricle attains an

adult shape but continues to growth until the
individual becomes 9 years of age.

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• The EAM is derived from the 1st branchial groove during 4th to
5th week of gestation.

• At this time the ectodermal lining of the 1st branchial groove is

in brief contact with the endodermal lining of the 1st
pharyngeal pouch.

• Mesodermal tissue grows between this 2 layers & separate the

pharyngeal pouch from that of branchial groove.

• In the 8th week of gestation, the primary auditory meatus sinks

towards the middle ear cavity & forms outer 1/3rd of auditory
canal which is surrounded ultimately by cartilage.

• The ectodermal groove continues to deepen toward the

tympanic cavity from the external surface until it meets a
thickening of epithelial cells known as the meatal plug which is
developed from surface ectoderm.

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Pharyngeal pouches

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• Mesenchyme grows between the meatal plug and the
epithelial cells of the tympanic cavity.

• Thus 3 layers of tissues are formed which are combined

to form the tympanic membrane.

• These 3 layer includes ;

1. The inner circular fiber layer
2. Fibrous middle layer of tissue
3. Outer radial fiber layer

• These entire development occurred before 9th week of

gestation.

• The solid meatal plug keeps the external auditory canal

closed until 21st week of gestation.
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• By this time the inner & middle ear structures are well
formed & ossified.

• The meatal plug disintegrates & forms a canal, with the

inner most layer of epithelium which becomes the
squamous epithelial layer of the tympanic membrane.

• The EAM, continues to grow until the 9 year of age.

• At birth the floor of the external auditory canal has no

bony portion which develops after the birth till the age of
9 years.

• Hence the EAC is short & straight in infants while in adult

it is longer & curved.

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FETAL WEEK EXTERNAL EAR
3rd Auricle develops during 3rd to 4th week from 1st branchial arch
gives rise to (tragus) and 2nd branchial arch gives rise to
(auricle).
4th Tissue thickening begins to form.
5th Primary auditory meatus begins from 1st branchial groove
6th six hillocks evident; cartilage begins to form on both sides of
the 1st branchial grooves.
7th Auricle move doroslaterally.
8th Outer cartilaginous to 1/3 rd external canal formed,
ectodermal grooves deepens towards T.M gives rise to
“Meatal plug” .
9th, 10th, 11th, From 7th to 20th auricle continues to develop moving from its
12th, 13th, 14th, original Ventromedial position to be slowly displaced laterally
15th, 16th, 18th by the growth of the mandible and face.

20th Auricle is adult shape but continues to grow until age 9.

21st and 30th External auditory canal continues to mature until age 7.
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