Outer ear

It is consists of Pinna, ear canal and ear drum.

Pinna (also called auricle): It is outer most (and visible) portion of ear. Its external parts are wide
while inner portion is narrow. Because of its shape it act as a funnel (collects the sound and directs it
through ear canal to ear drum).
Ear canal (auditory canal): It contain sebaceous glands which secrete ear wax (cerumen) for
lubrication of ear.
Ear drum (tympanic membrane): It is thin membrane located at the end of outer ear. It carries the
sound towards middle ear.

Middle ear
It is consists of three ear bones or ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes). These ossicles transmit sound to
the inner ear.
Malleus (also called hammer): It is hammer lie ossicle. Its one end is attached to ear drum while
other is connected with incus.
Incus (anvil): It is anvil shaped bone, attached with malleus and stapes.
Stapes: stirrup shaped bone attached to incus and oval window or vestibular window (membrane
covered opening between middle ear and inner ear).

Inner ear
It cotains cochlea, vestibule and semicircular canals.
Cochlea: It is coiled portion and auditor! portion of inner ear.
Semi-circular canal: Three fluid filled canals hori"ontal semi#circular canal, posterior semi#circular
canal and anterior semi#circular canal are called semi#circular canals.
The fluid inside these canals is called endol!mph. The dilation at one end of canal is called ampulla.
$mpulla contains %upula and hair cells.
&emi#circular canals are responsible for bod! balance and detect direction of rotation of head.
Vestibule: It is located between the semi#circular canals and cochlea. Its anterior and inferior part has
several minute holes for the passage of filaments of acoustic nerve (auditor! nerve) to saccule. &accule
detects the motion of head when it moves verticall!. $t the upper and bac of vestibule a structure
called utricle detects the degree of tilt movement of head.