Medium ear structure and function table. Anatomy of human ear: the structure of hearing organs

  • The date: 05.03.2020

The auditory sensory system of a person perceives and distinguishes a huge range of sounds. Their diversity and wealth serves for us as a source of information about the events of surrounding reality, as well as an important factor affecting the emotional and mental state of our organism. In this article, we will consider the anatomy of human ear, as well as the features of the functioning of the peripheral department of the auditory analyzer.

The mechanism of distinguishing sound oscillations

Scientists have established that the perception of sound, which, in fact, is air fluctuations in the auditory analyzer, transforms into the excitation process. Responsible for the feeling of sound stimuli in the auditory analyzer is its peripheral part containing receptors and a part of the ear. It perceives the amplitude of oscillations, called sound pressure, in the range from 16 Hz to 20 kHz. In our body, the auditory analyzer also performs such a crucial role as participating in the work of the system responsible for the development of a self-consistent speech and the entire psycho-emotional sphere. First, you will get acquainted with the general plan of the structure of the organ of hearing.

Departures of the peripheral part of the auditory analyzer

Ear anatomy highlights three structures called outdoor, middle and inner ear. Each of them performs specific functions, not only interrelated, but all together carrying out the processes of sound signals, their conversion to nerve impulses. According to auditory nerves, they are transmitted to the temporal share of the cerebral cortex, where there is a transformation of sound waves in the form of a variety of sounds: music, birds singing, the noise of the sea surf. In the process of phylogenesis of the biological species, "a reasonable man" organ of hearing has played a crucial role, as provided by the manifestation of such a phenomenon as a human speech. The departments of the hearing body were formed during the embryonic development of a person from an outdoor germinal sheet - Etoderma.

Outdoor Ear

This part of the peripheral department catches and sends air fluctuations to the eardrum. Anatomy of the outer ear is represented by a cartilage sink and an outer auditory passage. What does it look like? The outer shape of the ear shell has characteristic bends - curls, and is very different from different people. On one of them may be Darwin Budrock. It is considered a rudimentary organ, and by origin is homologous to the pointed upper edge of the mammalian ear, especially primates. The lower part is called the urine and is a junction tissue covered with skin.

Hearing passage - the structure of the outdoor ear

Further. The auditory passage is a tube consisting of cartilage and partly from bone tissue. It is covered with epithelium, containing modified sweat glands, separating sulfur, which moisturizes and disinfects the cavity of the passage. The muscles of the ears for most people are atrophied, unlike mammals, whose ears are actively reacting to external sound irritants. The pathology of the violation of the anatomy of the Ear structure is recorded in the early period of the development of gill arcs of the human embryo and may have the form of the splitting of the moss, the narrowing of the outer auditory pass or Agenesia is the complete absence of ear shell.

The cavity of the middle ear

The auditory pass ends with an elastic film separating the outdoor ear from its average part. This is a drumpot. It takes sound waves and begins to fluctuate, which causes similar movements of the hearing bones - the hammer, anvil and the sidewalls located in the middle ear, in the depths of the temporal bone. The hammer is attached to his handle to the eardrum, and the head is associated with anvil. She, in turn, closes with his long end with a sprinkling, and it is attached to the opposite window, followed by the inner ear. Everything is very simple. The anatomy of the ears revealed that a muscle reducing the tension of the eardrum joins the long process of the hammer. And the so-called "antagonist" is attached to the short part of this hearing bone. Special muscle.

Eustachian tube

With the throat, the average ear is connected through a channel called in honor of the scientist who described its structure - Bartolomeo Eustachio. The pipe serves as an adaptation that levels the pressure of atmospheric air to the eardrum from two sides: from the external auditory passage and the cavity of the middle ear. This is necessary in order for the oscillations of the eardrum without distortion to be transmitted to the fluid of the interfluent labyrinth of the inner ear. Eustachiev pipe is heterogeneous in its histological structure. The anatomy of the ears revealed that it contains not only the bone part. Also cartilaginous. Running down from the cavity of the middle ear, the pipe ends with a pharynqualine, located on the lateral surface of the nasopharynx. During swallowing, muscle fibrils attached to the cartilage pipe department are reduced, its lumen expands, and air portion is included in the drum cavity. Pressure on the membrane at this moment becomes the same on both sides. Around the pharystic hole is a section of lymphoid fabric, forming nodes. It is called almond germ and is part of the immune system.

Features of the anatomy of the inner ear

This part of the peripheral hearing sensor system is located in the depths of the temporal bone. It consists of semicircular channels related to the equilibrium organ and bone maze. The latter structure contains a snail, inside which is located Cortius a body that is a sound system. In the course of the spiral of the snail is separated by a thin vestibular plate and a denser main membrane. Both refill are separated by snail on the channels: lower, medium and top. At its widespread base, the upper channel begins the oval window, and the lower closed with a circular window. Both of them are filled with liquid content - perilimph. It is considered a modified liquor-substance that fills the spinal channel. Endolymph is another liquid, filling snail channels and accumulating in the cavity, where the nerve endings of the equilibrium organ are located. We will continue to study the anatomy of the ears and consider the parts of the auditory analyzer, which are responsible for the recoding of sound oscillations in the excitation process.

The meaning of the Cortiee Organ

Inside the snail there is a connecting wall, called the main membrane, on which the accumulation of cells of two types is located. Some fulfill the function of support, others are sensory - hairs. They perceive the oscillations of perilimphs, transform them into nervous impulses and transmit further sensitive fibers of the predver-liqueur (auditory) nerve. Further, the excitement reaches the cortical center of hearing, which is in the temporal proportion of the brain. There is a distinguish between sound signals. The clinical anatomy of the ear confirms the fact that to determine the direction of sound, the fact that we hear two ears are important. If sound oscillations reach them at the same time, a person perceives the sound of the front and rear. And if the waves come to one ear earlier than in another, then the perception takes place on the right or on the left.

Theory of sound perception

At present, there is no consensus about how the system analyzing sound vibrations is functioning and translating them into the form of sound images. The anatomy of the structure of the human ear allocates the following scientific views. For example, the resonant theory of the Helmholtz claims that the main snail membrane functions as a resonator and is able to lay complex fluctuations on simpler components, since its width is not the same at the top and at the base. Therefore, when the sounds appear, there is a resonance, as in the string tool - the harp or piano.

Another theory explains the process of the appearance of sounds in that the snail fluid arises a running wave as an answer to the oscillations of Endolimph. Vibrating fibers The main membrane is part of the resonance with a specific frequency of oscillations, nerve impulses arise in the hair cells. They come by auditory nerves into the temporal part of the cerebral cortex, where the end analysis of sounds occurs. Everything is extremely simple. Both of these theories of sound perception are based on the knowledge of the anatomy of the human ear.

Ear - a pair body that performs the function of the perception of sounds, and also monitors equilibrium and provides orientation in space. It is located in the temporal region of the skull, it has a derivation in the form of external oars.

The structure of the ear includes:

  • outer;
  • middle;
  • internal department.

The interaction of all departments contributes to the transfer of sound waves converted into a neural impulse and entering the human brain. Ear anatomy, analysis of each of the departments, makes it possible to describe the full picture of the structure of hearing agencies.

This part of the overall hearing system is an ear shell and a hearing pass. The sink in turn consists of adipose tissue and skin cover, it is determined by the reception of sound waves and the subsequent transfer to the auditory. This part of the ear is easily deformed, that is why it is necessary to avoid any coarse physical impacts.

Transmission of sounds occurs with some distortion, depending on the location of the sound source (horizontal or vertically), it helps to better navigate the surrounding environment. The next, behind the ear shell, is the cartilage of an external ear passage (average size 25-30 mm).


The scheme of the exterior department

To remove dust and mud sediments, the structure has sweat and sebaceous glands. A binding and intermediate link between the outer and middle ear is the drummeal. The principle of the rotation consists in catching sounds from an external auditory passage and turn them into fluctuations in a certain frequency. Transformed oscillations go to the middle ear.

The structure of the middle ear

The department consists of four parts - directly eardrum and auditory bones located in its area (hammer, anvil, stirring). The above components ensure the transmission of sound into the inner part of the hearing organs. Hearing bones form a complex chain that carries out the transmission process of oscillations.


Middle Department

The structure of the middle branch ear also includes an Eustachiev tube connecting this department with a nasopharyngeal part. It is necessary to normalize the pressure difference inside and outside the membrane. If the balance is not respected, it is possible or rupture a membrane.

The structure of the inner ear

The main component is a labyrinth - a complex design in its form and the functions performed. The labyrinth consists of the temporal and bone. The design is located in such a way that the temporal part is inside the bone.


Diagram of the Interior Department

The inner part contains the auditory body for the name of the snail, as well as the vestibular apparatus (responsible for the total equilibrium). The considered department has several other auxiliary parts:

  • semicircular canals;
  • sump;
  • stiring in an oval window;
  • round window;
  • drum staircase;
  • spiral snail channel;
  • bag;
  • staircase in anticipation.

Snail - spiral-type bone canal, divided into two identical parts by partition. The partition in turn is separated by stairs connecting from above. The main membrane consists of tissues and fibers, each of which responds to a certain sound. The membrane includes an apparatus for the perception of sound - Cortis organ.

Having considered the design of the hearing agencies, it can be concluded that all units are mainly due to sound-conducting and sound-visible parts. For the normal functioning of the ears, it is necessary to comply with the rules of personal hygiene, avoid colds and injuries.

The ear is a complex man and animal organ, thanks to which the perception of sound oscillations and the transfer of them to the main nervous center of the brain is. Also, the ear fulfills the equilibrium holding function.

As everyone knows, the human ear is a pair body located in the thickness of the temple bone of the skull. Outside the ear is limited to the ear shell. It is a direct receiver and conductor of all sounds.

The auditory apparatus of a person can perceive sound oscillations whose frequency exceeds 16 hertz. The maximum threshold of the ear sensitivity is 20,000 Hz.

The structure of the ear of man

The composition of the human auditory includes:

  1. Outdoor
  2. middle part
  3. Interior

In order to figure out the functions performed by those or other components, it is necessary to know the structure of each of them. Quite complex mechanisms for transmitting sounds allow a person to hear sounds in the form in which they come from outside.

  • Inner ear. It is the most complex part of the hearing aid. The anatomy of the inner ear is quite complicated, so it is often called a refilled labyrinth. It is also located in the temporal bone, or rather, in its stony part.
    The inner ear is connected with an average of oval and round windows. The composition of the web-changing labyrinth includes the run-up, snail as well as semicircular channels filled with two types of liquid: endolymph and perilimph. Also in the inner ear is the vestibular system responsible for the balance of man, and its ability to accelerate in space. The oscillations that occur in the oval window are moving to the liquid. With the help of it, the receptors are irritated in the snail, which leads to the formation of nerve impulses.

The vestibular device contains receptors that are located on Crysta channels. They are two types: in the form of a cylinder and flasks. The hairs are opposite each other. Stereocilence during the displacement cause excitement, and cinema, on the contrary, contribute to braking.

For a more accurate understanding of the topic, we bring to your attention a photo of the structure of the structure of the human ear, which presents a complete anatomy of the human ear:

As you can see, the human auditory apparatus is a rather complex system of all sorts of formations that perform a number of important, indispensable functions. As for the structure of the external part of the ear, each person may have individual characteristics that do not harm the main function.

The care of the auditory is an integral part of human hygiene, since hearing loss are possible as a result of functional disorders, as well as other diseases associated with outdoor, middle or inner ear.

According to scientists, a person becomes more difficult for a loss of vision, rather than loss of hearing, because it loses the possibility of communication with the environment, that is, becomes isolated.

Hearing organs allow you to perceive the diversity of sounds of the outside world, recognize their character and location. Thanks to the possibility of hearing, a person acquires the ability to speak. The hearing body is the most complicated, finely configured system from successively interconnected three departments.

Outdoor Ear

The first division is an ears of the sink - a complex shape of a cartilaginous plate, on both sides covered with skin, and an outer hearing pass.

The main function of the auricle is the adoption of acoustic air fluctuations. From the hole in the ear shell, the outer hearing pass begins - a tube with a length of 27 - 35 mm, coming deep into the temporal bone of the skull. In the skin, lining a hearing aisle, are sulfur glands, the secret of which prevents the penetration of infection into an organ of hearing. The eardrum is a thin, but durable membrane - separates the outdoor ear from the second hearing body, the middle ear.

Middle ear

In the deepening there is a component of the main part of the hearing (Evstachiev) pipe - a link between the middle ear and the nasopharynk. With swallowing movements, it opens and allows the air to penetrate into the middle ear, which balances the pressure in the drum cavity and the outer auditory passage.

In the middle ear, there are moving miniature - a complex mechanism for transmitting acoustic oscillations coming from an external auditory passage to the hearingcakes of the inner ear. The first bone is a hammer, a long end attached to the second - an anvil, connected with the third miniature bone, a sword. Swimmingly adjacent to an oval window, from which the inner ear begins. Bones, which include an hearing body, very small. For example, the wiping mass is only 2.5 mg.

Interior Ear

The third hearing body is represented by a finver (miniature bone chamber), semicircular channels and a special formation - a thin-walled bone tube twisted into a spiral.

This part resembling grape snail and is called a hearing snail.

The hearing body has important anatomical education, allowing to maintain balance and evaluate the position of the body in space. This is a legitrade and semicircular channels, filled with liquid and embroidered from the inside very sensitive cells. When a person changes the position of the body, the liquid displacement occurs in the channels. Receptors fix the displacement of the fluid and send a signal about this event into the brain. So the hearing body and equilibrium allows the brain to learn about the movements of our body.

The membrane, which is inside the snail consists of about 25 thousand thin fibers of different lengths, each of which responds to the sounds of a certain frequency and excites the end of the auditory nerve. Nervous excitement is first transmitted to then reaches the cortex of the brain. In the auditory centers of the brain irritation are analyzed and systematized, as a result of which we hear the sounds filling the world.

Rumor is a type of sensitivity that causes the perception of sound oscillations. Its value is invaluable in the mental development of a full-fledged personality. Thanks to the rumor, the sound of the surrounding reality is known, the sounds of nature are familiar. No sound is possible sound speech communication between people, people and animals, between people and nature, and music works could not appear without it.

Peer acuity in humans. In some, it is reduced or normal, others have increased. There are people with absolute hearing. They are able to recognize the height of the specified tone from memory. The musical hearing allows you to accurately determine the intervals between the sounds of different heights, recognize the melodies. Individuals with musical hearing in the performance of musical works are characterized by a feeling of rhythm, they can accurately repeat the specified tone, the musical phrase.

Using hearing, people are able to determine the direction of sound and on it - its source. This property allows you to navigate in space, on the ground, distinguish between the speaker among several others. Rumor together with other types of sensitivity (vision) warns about the dangers arising during labor, staying outside, among nature. In general, rumor, like vision, makes the life of a man spiritually rich.

A person perceives sound waves with a hearing with a frequency of oscillations from 16 to 20,000 hertz. With age, the perception of high frequencies is reduced. Hearing perception is reduced and when the sound of great strength, high and especially low frequencies.

One of the parts of the inner ear - the vestibular - determines the sense of body position in space, supports the balance of the body, provides a person's straightening.

How does the Human Ear

Outdoor, average and internal - the main departments of the ear

The temporal bone of a person is a bone capacity of the organ of hearing. It consists of three main departments: outdoor, medium and internal. The first two serve to conduct sounds, the third contains a sound sensitive device and an equilibrium apparatus.

The structure of the outdoor ear


The outer ear is represented by ear sink, external auditory passage, drumpot. The ear shell captures and directs sound waves in a hearing pass, but a person has almost losted its main purpose.

The outer hearing pass spends sounds to the eardrum. In its walls there are sebaceous glands that distinguish the so-called ear sulfur. The eardrum is located on the border between the outer and middle ear. This is a round-shaped size of 9 * 11mm. It takes sound hesitations.

The structure of the middle ear


The scheme of the structure of the middle ear of a person with a description

The middle ear is located between the outer auditory passage and the inner ear. It consists of a drum cavity, which is located directly behind the drummeal, into which through Eustachiyev, the pipe is communicated with the nasooplot. The drum cavity has a volume of about 1 cc.

It contains three auditory bones interconnected:

  • Hammer;
  • anvil;
  • stapes.

These bones transmit sound oscillations from the eardrum to the oval window of the inner ear. They reduce the amplitude and increase the power of sound.

The structure of the inner ear


The scheme of the structure of the inner ear of man

The inner ear, or a labyrinth, is a system of cavities and channels filled with liquid. The function of the hearing here only snail is performed - spirally twisted channel (2.5 curl). The rest of the inner ear ensure the preservation of the equilibrium of the body in space.

Sound oscillations from the drummeal by means of a system of auditory seeds through an oval hole are transferred to liquids filling inner ear. Vibrating, liquid irritates the receptors located in the spiral (cortiyev) of the snail organ.

Spiral organ - This is a sound visible apparatus located in Snail. It consists of the main membrane (plates) with support and receptor cells, as well as from the oversized membrane hanging over them. Receptors (perceiving) cells have an extended form. Their one end is fixed on the main membrane, and the opposite contains 30-120 hairs of different lengths. These hairs are washed with liquid (endolymph) and come into contact with the coating plate hanging over them.

Sound oscillations from the drum membrane and auditory seeds are transmitted by liquids filling snapply channels. These oscillations cause oscillations of the main membrane along with the spiral body's hair receptors.

During the oscillations, haightened cells concern the cover membrane. As a result, they arise in them the difference of electrical potentials, leading to the excitation of the hearing nerve fibers, which depart from receptors. It turns out a kind of microphone effect, in which the mechanical energy of the oscillations of the endolymph turns into electrical nervous excitation. The character of excitations depends on the properties of sound waves. High tones are captured by a narrow part of the main membrane, at the base of the snail. Low tones are registered with a wide part of the main membrane, the top of the snail.

From the Cortiyev receptors, the excitation organ extends to the fibers of the auditory nerve into the subcortical and cortical (in the temporal share) of the hearing centers. The whole system, including sound-conducting parts of the middle and internal ear, receptors, nerve fibers, hearing centers in the brain, is an auditory analyzer.

Vestibular apparatus and orientation in space

As already mentioned, the inner ear performs a double role: the perception of sounds (snail with a cortis organ), as well as the regulation of the position of the body in space, equilibrium. The latter function is provided by the vestibular apparatus, which consists of two bags - rounded and oval - and three semicircular channels. They are interconnected and filled with liquid. On the inner surface of the bags and extensions of semicircular channels there are sensitive hairs cells. The fibers of the nerves depart from them.


Corner accelerations are perceived mainly by receptors located in semicircular channels. Receptors are excited at a fluid pressure of the channels. Straight accelerations are registered by the prediction bags receptors, where owlite apparatus. It consists of sensitive hairs of nerve cells immersed in the gelatinous substance. Together they form a membrane. The upper part of the membrane contains inclusions of calcium bicarbonate crystals - otolitis. Under the influence of rectilinear accelerations, these crystals of their gravity are forced to fade the membrane. At the same time, the strains of hairs occur and the excitation broadcasting in the corresponding nerve in the central nervous system occurs.

The function of the vestibular apparatus as a whole can be represented as follows. The movement of the fluid contained in the vestibular apparatus caused by the movement of the body, shaking, rolling, causes irritation of sensitive receptor hairs. The excitation is transmitted through the cranknot nerves into the oblong brain, the bridge. From here they are sent to the cerebellum, as well as a spinal cord. This contact with the spinal cord determines the reflex (involuntary) movements of the neck muscles, torso, limbs, due to which the position of the head, the body is leveling, is prevented.

With a conscious definition of the position of the head, the excitation comes from the oblong brain and the bridge through the visual bumps into the bark of the big brain. It is believed that the cortical equilibrium control centers and the position of the body in space are in the dark and the temporal shares of the brain. Due to the cortical ends of the analyzer, conscious equilibrium control and body position is possible, a strain is provided.

Hygiene hearing

  • Physical;
  • chemical
  • microorganisms.

Physical harmful factors

Under physical factors, it is necessary to understand the injury impacts during bruises, when picking up various objects in the outer hearing aisle, as well as constant noise and especially sound fluctuations in ultra-high and especially infusion frequencies. Injuries are accidents and they are not always able to prevent, but drumping injuries during the cleaning of the ears can be completely avoided.

How to clean your ears? To be removed sulfur, it is enough to wash your ears daily and there will be no need to clean it with rude objects.

With ultrasound and infrasounds, a person is facing only in production conditions. To prevent their harmful effects on hearing organs, it is necessary to comply with the safety regulations.

Constant noises are harmful to the organ of hearing in the conditions of large cities, in enterprises. However, the health service is fighting with these phenomena, and engineering and technical idea is aimed at developing production technology with a decrease in noise level.

Worse, the business is the loudest game on musical instruments. Especially negatively influence the headphones on a human hearing, while listening to hands-free music. In such persons, the level of perception of sounds decreases. The recommendation is one - to accustom yourself to moderate volume.

Chemical harmful factors

The diseases of the hearing body as a result of chemicals are mainly due to violations of safety techniques. Therefore, it is necessary to comply with the rules for working with chemicals. If you do not know the properties of some substance, you should not use it.

Microorganisms as a harmful factor

Damage to the hearing body by pathogenic microorganisms can be prevented by timely rehabilitation of the nasopharynx, from which the pathogens penetrate into the middle ear through Eustachius channel and cause the inflammation at the beginning, and during the initiation of treatment, the decline and loss of hearing.

Unlightening measures are important to preserve hearing: the organization of a healthy lifestyle, observance of labor and recreation, physical training, reasonable hardening.

For people suffering from the weakness of the vestibular apparatus, which manifests itself in the intolerance to the trip in transport, special workouts are desirable, exercises. These exercises are aimed at reducing the excitability of the equilibrium apparatus. They are done on rotating chairs, special simulators. The most accessible training session can be performed on a swing, gradually increasing its time. In addition, gymnastic exercises are applied: rotational movements of the head, body, jumping, tumbling. Of course, the vestibular apparatus training is carried out under medical control.

All considered analyzers determine the harmonious identity development only with close cooperation.