Ear

Front 1

Auricle or Pinna

Back 1

Fleshy, cartilaginous external ear flap located on side of head. Collects sound waves and directs them to external auditory canal

Front 2

External Auditory Canal

Back 2

Passageway that directs sound waves from the auricle to tympanic membrane

Front 3

Tympanic membrane

Back 3

Commonly called the "eardrum". Separates the outer and middle ears. Vibrates when struck by sound waves and transfers it to middle ear.

Front 4

Ceruminous Glands

Back 4

Secrete cerumen (earwax) into external auditory canal. Located at base of hairs that line the canal. Helps prevent foreign substances from reaching tympanic membrane.

Front 5

Malleus

Back 5

Ear ossicle (bone) commonly called "hammer". Attached to inside surface of the tympanic membrane. Articulates with incus and transmits vibrations from tympanic membrane to the incus.

Front 6

Incus

Back 6

An ossicle commonly called "anvil". Articulates with the malleus and stapes and transmits vibrations from malleus to stapes.

Front 7

Stapes

Back 7

Ossicle commonly called "stirrup". Articulates with the incus and the oval window and transmits vibrations from the in cuts to the oval window.

Front 8

Oval window

Back 8

Opening between middle and inner ear. Stapes attaches to the membrane over it and transfers vibrations to the fluid in the inner ear. Membrane is 22 times smaller than tympanic membrane. Size difference magnifies vibrations

Front 9

Round Window

Back 9

Opening directly below the oval window. Covered by secondary tympanic membrane. Bugs out into middle ear to dissipate the pressure waves within the cochlea.

Front 10

Eustachian tube

Back 10

Tube connecting the middle ear and the nasopharynx. Equalizes air pressure in middle ear with that of atmospheric pressure, enabling tympanic membrane to vibrate freely.

Front 11

Stapedius

Back 11

Small skeletal muscle which protects oval window by dampening vibration of the stapes in response to loud noises

Front 12

Tensor tympani

Back 12

Small skeletal muscle with limits movement of ossicles and increases tension of tympanic membrane to prevent damage in response to loud, prolonged noises.

Front 13

Bony labyrinth

Back 13

Series of interconnected passageways in the temporal bone.

Front 14

MEmbranous labyrinth

Back 14

Series of interconnected fluid filled tubes found within bony labyrhinth

Front 15

Cochlea

Back 15

Part of bony labyrinth resembling a snail shell. Contains cochlear duct.

Front 16

Cochlear duct

Back 16

part of membranous labyrinth found within the cochlea. It contains the hearing receptor cells.

Front 17

Vestibule

Back 17

Part of bony labyrinth containing the saccule and utricle

Front 18

Saccule and utricle

Back 18

Pair of membranous sacs found within the vestibule that contain the receptor cells for gravity and linear acceleration

Front 19

Semicircular canals

Back 19

part of the bony labyrinth containing the semicircular ducts.

Front 20

Semicircular ducts

Back 20

series of 3 fluid filled ducts found within the semicircular canals. orientated at right angles to each other on 3 planes. receptors provide information on the position of the head and body.