Middle ear

Middle ear

The Middle ear is the portion of the ear that lies just behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and is connected to the outer ear (the visible portion of the ear) by the eustachian tube. It is separated from the inner ear by the oval and round windows.

Anatomy

The middle ear contains three small bones, or ossicles, known as the malleus (or hammer), incus (or anvil), and stapes (or stirrup). These bones amplify sound vibrations from the eardrum as they travel to the inner ear. The middle ear also includes the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells, which are connected to the tympanic cavity by the mastoid antrum and aditus.

Function

The primary function of the middle ear is to transmit sound from the outer ear to the inner ear. The ossicles amplify the sound vibrations and transmit them to the cochlea in the inner ear, where they are converted into electrical signals and sent to the brain.

Diseases and disorders

There are several diseases and disorders that can affect the middle ear, including otitis media, which is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear, cholesteatoma, which is a skin growth that occurs in the middle ear, and otosclerosis, which is an abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear that can cause hearing loss.

Treatment

Treatment for diseases and disorders of the middle ear depends on the specific condition and can range from medication to surgery. For example, otitis media is often treated with antibiotics, while surgery may be required for conditions like cholesteatoma and otosclerosis.

See also

• Eardrum
• Eustachian tube
• Ossicles
• Cochlea

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