Ear: Anatomical Terms

• pinna
• external auditory meatus (canal)
• cerumen

auricle; projected part of the external ear

external passage for sounds collected from the pinna to the tympanum

waxy substance secreted by glands located throughout the external canal

• tympanic membrane (TM)
• malleus
• incus
• stapes

eardrum; drum-like structure that receives sound collected in the external auditory meatus and amplifies it through the middle ear

hammer; first of three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

anvil; middle of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

stirrup; last of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

tube connecting the middle ear to the pharynx (throat)

projection of the temporal bone located behind the ear containing air cells that connect to the middle ear

membrane that covers the opening between the middle ear and inner ear

structures and liquids that relay sound waves to the auditory nerve fibers on a path to the brain for interpretation of sound

• labyrinth
• cochlea
• perilymph
• endolymph
• organ of Corti
• vestibule
• utricle
• saccule
• semicircular canals

maze; inner ear consisting of bony and membranous labyrinths

coiled tubular structure of the inner ear that contains the organ of Corti

fluid that fills the bony labyrinth of the ear

fluid within the cochlear duct of the inner ear

organ located in the cochlea that contains receptors (hair cells) that receive vibrations and generate nerve impulses for hearing

middle part of the inner ear in front of the semicircular canals and behind the cochlea that contains the utricle and saccule

larger of two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the inner ear

smaller of two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the inner ear

three canals within the inner ear that contain specialized receptor cells that generate nerve impulses with body movement