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What are the three parts of the ear?
What are the three parts of the ear?
External, middle, internal
What is the function of the auricle?
What is the function of the auricle?
Collects sounds and directs them to the middle ear
What is the name of the wax that is produced by the external acoustic meatus?
What is the name of the wax that is produced by the external acoustic meatus?
Cerumen (ear wax)
What is the function of the tympanic membrane?
What is the function of the tympanic membrane?
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What are the three tiny bones in the middle ear called?
What are the three tiny bones in the middle ear called?
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What is the function of the middle ear?
What is the function of the middle ear?
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What is the function of the Eustachian tube?
What is the function of the Eustachian tube?
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What are the two main functions of the inner ear?
What are the two main functions of the inner ear?
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What is the name of the fluid that fills the bony labyrinth?
What is the name of the fluid that fills the bony labyrinth?
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What is the name of the fluid that fills the membranous labyrinth?
What is the name of the fluid that fills the membranous labyrinth?
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What are the two sacs in the vestibule called?
What are the two sacs in the vestibule called?
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What are the three semicircular canals called?
What are the three semicircular canals called?
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What is the name of the specialized area of the neuroepithelial cells in the utricle and saccule?
What is the name of the specialized area of the neuroepithelial cells in the utricle and saccule?
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What is the name of the gelatinous structure that covers the hair cells in the maculae?
What is the name of the gelatinous structure that covers the hair cells in the maculae?
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What is the name of the specialized area of the neuroepithelial cells in the semicircular canals?
What is the name of the specialized area of the neuroepithelial cells in the semicircular canals?
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What is the name of the gelatinous structure that covers the hair cells in the crista ampullaris?
What is the name of the gelatinous structure that covers the hair cells in the crista ampullaris?
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What is the function of the cochlea?
What is the function of the cochlea?
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What are the two types of hair cells in the organ of Corti?
What are the two types of hair cells in the organ of Corti?
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What is the name of the structure that separates the scala vestibuli from the scala media?
What is the name of the structure that separates the scala vestibuli from the scala media?
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What is the name of the structure that separates the scala tympani from the scala media?
What is the name of the structure that separates the scala tympani from the scala media?
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What is the name of the gelatinous structure that lies over the hair cells in the organ of Corti?
What is the name of the gelatinous structure that lies over the hair cells in the organ of Corti?
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What is the name of the nerve that supplies the inner ear?
What is the name of the nerve that supplies the inner ear?
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Study Notes
Histology of the Ear
- The ear is responsible for both hearing and equilibrium
- It has three parts: external, middle, and internal
External Ear
- Function: Collects sounds and directs them to the middle ear
- Auricle (pinna): Irregular funnel-shaped elastic cartilage covered in skin
- External acoustic meatus: Canal within the skull, lined with keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, hair, sebaceous, and ceruminous glands
- Tympanic membrane: Separates the external from the middle ear
Middle Ear
- Function: Collects sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane and transmits them to the inner ear via ossicles
- Ossicles: Tiny bones (malleus, incus, stapes) connected by synovial joints; transmit vibrations
- Auditory (eustachian) tube: Connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx
- Lined with simple cuboidal epithelium
Internal Ear
- Most complex part: Contains sensory receptors for hearing and equilibrium
- Bony Labyrinth: Inner framework
- Membranous Labyrinth: Lining the bony labyrinth; filled with endolymph
- Vestibule: Central cavity containing saccule and utricle (equilibrium)
- Semicircular Canals: Contain semicircular ducts (balance and rotational movement)
- Cochlea: Contains cochlear duct, a spiral shaped tube responsible for hearing
- Spiral Organ of Corti: Within cochlear duct; contains hair cells (sensory receptors for sound)
- Outer Hair Cells: Supporting cells for auditory hair cells
- Inner Hair Cells: Sensory receptors for sound
- Stereocilia: Tiny hair-like projections involved in converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses
- Tectorial membrane: Rigid sheet of protein that contacts stereocilia; important for sound transduction
Utricle and Saccule
- Thin CT lined with simple squamous epithelium
- Maculae: Areas of columnar neuroepithelial cells (hair cells) innervated by vestibular nerve branches. Embedded in otolithic membrane
- Otolithic membrane: Gelatinous material with otoliths (calcium carbonate crystals), senses head position and linear acceleration.
Semicircular Ducts
- Three in number: Anterior, Posterior, and Horizontal.
- Crista ampularis: Contain hair cells within ampullae, sensitive to rotational movement
Cochlear Duct
- Contains endolymph and hair cells
- Spiral tube: Provides auditory function
- Outer Hair Cells: Columnar, V-shaped stereocilia
- Inner Hair Cells: Shorter stereocilia.
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Description
This quiz covers the histology of the ear, focusing on its three main parts: the external ear, middle ear, and internal ear. Explore the functions, structures, and essential components that contribute to hearing and equilibrium. Test your knowledge on the anatomy and functions of the ear.
