External Ear Anatomy Quiz

A small notch located in front of the antitragus.

A small elevation located in front of the intertragic notch.

The area above the concha of the ear.

A curved hollow depression on the outer ear, located below the cymba conchae.

The area behind the tragus and bounded by the antitragus.

The cartilaginous part of the external ear canal, connected to the cartilage of the outer ear.

Two small openings located in the cartilage of the ear canal.

These fissures provide a pathway for infections to enter the ear canal from the parotid gland and mastoid region.

A large salivary gland located near the ear.

A bony prominence behind the ear.

A small opening on the medial side of the middle ear floor, allowing passage for the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).

The branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) that travels through the tympanic branch aperture and enters the middle ear.

The middle ear is a small air-filled cavity located within the temporal bone, behind the eardrum.

The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) is a cranial nerve responsible for various functions, including taste sensation, swallowing, and salivary gland innervation.

The Eustachian tube helps maintain equal air pressure between the middle ear and the environment. This allows the eardrum to vibrate freely and hear properly.

The Eustachian tube helps prevent infections by keeping the middle ear clean and draining any fluid or mucus buildup.

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx (the upper part of your throat), which is where the nose and throat meet.

The Eustachian tube is normally closed, but it opens when you swallow or yawn, allowing air to flow in and out of the middle ear.

The Eustachian tube can become blocked, which can cause pain and pressure in the middle ear. This is often what happens during ear infections.

The section of the facial nerve that runs horizontally within its bony canal, situated directly above the oval window.

The part of the horizontal semicircular canal closest to its ampulla, positioned directly above the second bend of the facial nerve.

The opening in the temporal bone that connects the middle ear to the inner ear.

A swelling at the end of the horizontal semicircular canal, responsible for sensing head rotation.

The point where the facial nerve changes direction, creating a bend.

The ratio of the area of the tympanic membrane to the area of the stapes footplate, which is about 18:1, is known as the middle ear transformer ratio.

The middle ear transformer ratio, which represents the area difference between the tympanic membrane and the stapes footplate, results in a 25 dB gain in sound pressure.

The middle ear transformer ratio is calculated by combining the area effect of the tympanic membrane and the lever action of the ossicles.

The tympanic membrane, the first part of the middle ear, is larger than the stapes footplate, the last part of the middle ear. This difference in area contributes to the middle ear transformer ratio.

The ossicles, tiny bones in the middle ear, act like a lever system, further amplifying the sound pressure transmitted to the inner ear.