Ear — Anatomy and vocabulary

Pinna

External flap of the ear; also called auricle.

Auricle

Protruding external ear.

Auditory canal

Channel leading from the pinna to the eardrum.

Auditory meatus

Another name for the auditory canal.

Cerumen

Earwax that lubricates and protects the ear canal.

Tympanic membrane

Eardrum; separates the outer and middle ear.

Malleus

First ossicle; means hammer.

Incus

Second ossicle; means anvil.

Stapes

Third ossicle; means stirrup.

Ossicles

Three small bones of the middle ear: malleus, incus, and stapes.

Oval window

Membrane between the middle and inner ear.

Auditory tube

Connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx.

Eustachian tube

Another name for the auditory tube.

Labyrinth

Maze-like structure of the inner ear.

Cochlea

Snail-shell-shaped structure involved in hearing.

Organ of Corti

Auditory receptor area inside the cochlea.

Endolymph

Fluid within the labyrinth of the inner ear.

Perilymph

Fluid contained in the labyrinth of the inner ear.

Vestibule

Central cavity connecting the cochlea and semicircular canals.

Semicircular canals

Inner-ear passages associated with balance.

Auditory nerve fibers

Carry impulses from the inner ear to the brain.

Vestibulocochlear nerve

Cranial nerve VIII; carries hearing and balance information.