The organs of balance and hearing are a complex of structures that perceive vibrations, identify sound waves, transmit gravitational signals to the brain. The main receptors are located in the so-called membranous cochlea and on the eve of the ear. The remaining structures that form the inner and middle ear are auxiliary. In this material, we consider in detail the organs of hearing and balance, their analyzers.
Outer ear
It is represented by the outer auricle - an elastic cartilaginous tissue covered with skin. The outer earlobe is filled with a fatty structure. Since the external ear is almost motionless in a person, his role is less significant than in animals that find
a sound source due to ear control.
The development of the organ of hearing and balance has led to the formation of characteristic folds and curls in the external auricle of a person, which contribute to the capture of vertically and horizontally localized sounds.
The outer part of the auditory organ has a length of the order of 2.5-3.5 mm and a diameter of 6 to 8 mm. The cartilaginous tissue of the external auditory meatus smoothly passes into the bone. The inner surfaces of the outer ear are lined with epithelium containing sebaceous glands. The latter, in addition to fats, produce earwax, which prevents the body from being polluted with dust, small debris, and protects it from the multiplication of microorganisms.
Eardrum
It has the appearance of a thin membrane with a thickness of not more than 0.1 mm, which is located on the border of the outer and middle ear. Sound waves that are reflected from the convolutions of the auricle pass through the auditory canal, causing vibrations of the eardrum. In turn, the generated signals are transmitted to the middle ear.
Middle ear
The basis of the middle ear is a small cavity with a volume of about 1 cm
3 , which is located in the temporal bone of the skull. It houses several auditory ossicles - the so-called stapes, malleus and anvil. They act as tiny bone fragments that form the organ of hearing and balance. Innervates his set of corresponding nerves.
Inner ear
What does this organ of hearing and balance consist of? The histology of the inner ear is represented by the following elements:
- Bone labyrinth, consisting of the vestibule of the inner ear, semicircular canals and bone cochlea. These elements are filled with perilymph - a specific fluid that converts sound vibrations into mechanical ones.
- The membranous labyrinth, which is represented by a spherical and elliptical sac, three semicircular membranous canals. The presented part of the inner ear is located in the bone labyrinth and is mainly responsible for maintaining the balance of the body in space.
- The cochlea is an organ of hearing and balance, the structure of which allows you to convert sound vibrations into nervous excitement. It forms a cochlear channel of 2.5 turns, which are separated by the thinnest Reisner membrane and the main, denser membrane. The latter consists of more than 20,000 specific fibers called auditory strings. They are stretched across the auditory membrane.
Cortiev organ
It is responsible for the formation of nerve impulses that are transmitted to the neurons of the brain. The organ is presented in the form of several hairs, which play the
role of receptors.
Schematically, the process of formation of nerve impulses occurs as follows. Sound waves coming from the outside, set in motion liquids in the cochlea. Fluctuations are transmitted to the stapes, and then to the membrane with hair cells. The presented structures are excited, which causes the transmission of signals to neurons. Hair cells are connected to sensitive receptors, which together make up the auditory nerve.
Hearing organ functions, balance
The following functions of the organ of hearing and balance are distinguished:
- The outer ear protects the inside of the organ from contamination, reflects sounds in the ear canal.
- The middle ear conducts vibrations of sound waves. The malleus reacts to the movement of the eardrum, passing them to the stapes and anvil.
- The inner ear provides the perception of sound and the identification of certain signals (speech, music, etc.).
- Semicircular canals contribute to the formation of a sense of balance in space, allow the body to take an optimal position in accordance with movements.
The organs of balance and hearing: common diseases
There are a number of diseases of an inflammatory, non-inflammatory and infectious nature that affect the organs responsible for the formation of hearing and maintaining orientation in space. It is somewhat difficult to eliminate pathological manifestations of both the complex structure of the ear apparatus and the isolated nature of the arrangement of organs. Let's look at the main series of ailments that affect the organs of balance and hearing, and highlight the methods for their treatment.
Inflammatory diseases
Among the main ailments of the presented category it should be noted:
- otitis;
- otosclerosis;
- labyrinthitis.
These diseases often develop against the background of transferred infectious or viral ailments that are localized in the nasopharynx.
If we talk about otitis media, their main manifestation is the sensation of itching in the ear canal, the development of aching pain syndrome, and in the most advanced cases - abundant discharge of suppuration from the ear canal. All this is manifested by hearing loss.
Such inflammatory processes as labyrinthitis and otosclerosis are characterized by an increase in body temperature, the occurrence of severe shooting pain in the ear canal. In the event of a late response to the problem, the likelihood of pathological damage to the structure of the tympanic membrane increases and, as a result, complete hearing loss.
Among the additional symptoms that may accompany the course of inflammatory diseases, it may be noted: dizziness, loss of ability to focus the gaze, decreased quality of perception of individual sounds.
The inflamed organs of balance and hearing are treated with special ear drops, which reduce swelling, release and disinfect the ear canal. Another effective method of therapy involves heating the ear under a UV lamp.
Non-inflammatory diseases
One of the most common ailments of the organs of hearing and balance is Meniere's disease. The course of the disease is accompanied by the accumulation and stagnation of fluids in the cavities of the inner ear. As a result, increased pressure on the elements of the vestibular apparatus. The main signs of the development of Meniere's disease are tinnitus, regular nausea and vomiting, hearing impairment progressing every day.
Another type of non-inflammatory disease is auditory receptor neuritis. The disease is hidden and can lead to the gradual development of hearing loss.
As a treatment for the chronic nature of the above pathologies, they most often resort to surgical intervention. In order to avoid such serious problems, hygiene of the organs of hearing, periodic visits to the doctor are extremely important.
Fungal diseases
As a rule, ailments of this plan arise against the background of damage to the ear canal by spores of pathogenic fungi. In some cases, such diseases develop in response to traumatic tissue damage.
The main complaints with fungal ailments are: constant noise and a feeling of itching in the ear canal, the formation of atypical discharge from the ear. The elimination of such manifestations involves the use of antifungal drugs, which are prescribed by a specialist, depending on the type of infection.
Motion sickness syndrome
The semicircular canals of the inner ear are vulnerable to significant external influences. The result of their excessive, intense irritation is the formation of a motion sickness syndrome. Diseases of the nervous and autonomic systems, inflammatory processes that occur in the inside of the hearing aid can also lead to its development. In the latter case, to eliminate discomfort, you should get rid of the manifestations of the underlying ailment. Effective therapy, as a rule, allows you to eliminate the feeling of motion sickness, which develops during movement by car, water modes of transport.
Vestibular training
What should a healthy person do when forming a motion sickness syndrome? The main reason for the development of the condition is the conduct of a sedentary lifestyle. Regular physical exercises not only allow you to keep your body muscles in good shape, but also have a beneficial effect on the resistance of the vestibular apparatus to enhanced stimuli.
People susceptible to motion sickness are advised to do fitness, aerobics, acrobatics, long-distance running, and game sports. In the course of moving the body at a separate speed and performing body movements at various angles, excessive excitation of the vestibular apparatus is gradually suppressed. After some time, the organs of vision, hearing and balance find an optimal balance between themselves. All this allows you to get rid of dizziness and nausea, which is the result of motion sickness.
Hearing hygiene
To prevent hearing impairment, it’s important to take simple hygiene measures. So, irregular cleaning of the ear canal from accumulated sulfur can cause the formation of plugs, which affects hearing loss. To avoid such discomfort, you should periodically wash your ears with soapy water. At the same time, it is recommended to use special cotton buds to clean the ear canal, since the use of solid objects for this purpose is fraught with damage to the eardrum. If the sulfur plug cannot be removed on its own, you need to sign up for the appropriate procedures to the doctor.
The organ of hearing and balance, the anatomy of which has a direct connection with the nasopharynx, requires timely treatment of diseases such as colds, flu, measles, tonsillitis. When penetrating the auditory tube, pathogenic microorganisms can cause not only inflammation, but also tissue damage.
A long-term stay of a person in noisy rooms, sharp sounds can affect hearing loss. If you have to work in such conditions on duty, you need to protect your hearing with ear plugs or special headphones.
Finally
So we examined the structure of the organ of hearing and balance, the mechanism of perception of sounds, common pathological manifestations and features of hygiene. As can be seen, in order to maintain health, one should give importance to the characteristic symptoms that affect hearing loss. In order to avoid unnecessary problems, it is important to undergo examinations in a timely manner and consult a doctor for help.