The human ear is a unique organ that functions on a paired basis, which is located in the very depths of the temporal bone. The anatomy of its structure allows you to capture the mechanical vibrations of the air, as well as transmit them through the internal environments, then convert the sound and transmit it to the brain centers.
According to the anatomical structure, a person’s ears can be divided into three parts, namely, the outer, middle and inner.
Middle ear elements
Studying the structure of the middle part of the ear, you can see that it is divided into several components: the tympanic cavity, the ear tube and the auditory ossicles. The last ones include the anvil, hammer, and stirrup.
Middle ear malleus
This part of the auditory ossicles includes elements such as the neck and grip. The head of the malleus is connected via a hammer joint to the structure of the anvil body. And the handle of this malleus is connected with the eardrum by means of fusion with it. A special muscle is attached to the neck of the malleus, which stretches the eardrum of the ear.
Anvil
This element of the ear has at its disposal a length of six to seven millimeters, which consists of a special body and two legs with short and long sizes. That one, which is short, has a lenticular process that fuses with the anvil stirrup joint and with the head of the stapes itself.
What else does the middle ear auditory bone include?
Stirrup
The stirrup has a head, as well as front and rear legs with part of the base. A stirrup muscle is attached to its hind leg. The base of the stirrup itself is embedded in an oval-shaped window on the threshold of the maze. An annular ligament in the form of a membrane, which is located between the supporting base of the stapes and the edge of the oval window, helps to ensure the mobility of this auditory element, which is ensured by the action of air waves directly on the eardrum.
Anatomical description of the muscles attached to the bones
Two transverse striated muscles are attached to the auditory ossicles, which perform certain functions to transmit sound vibrations.
One of them stretches the eardrum and originates at the walls of the muscular and tubal canals related to the temporal bone, and then it attaches to the neck of the malleus itself. The function of this fabric is to pull the handle of the hammer inward. Tension occurs towards the tympanum. In this case, the tension of the eardrum occurs and therefore it is as if stretched and concave in the region of the middle ear region.
Another stapes muscle originates in the thickness of the pyramidal increase in the mastoid wall of the tympanic region and is attached to the stapes leg located at the back. Its function is to reduce and remove from the opening of the base of the stirrup itself. During powerful vibrations of the auditory ossicles, the auditory ossicles are held along with the previous muscle, which significantly reduces their displacement.
The auditory ossicles, which are connected by joints, and, in addition, the muscles related to the middle ear, completely regulate the movement of air flows at different levels of intensity.
Middle ear drum
In addition to the ossicles, a certain cavity is also included in the structure of the middle ear, which is commonly called the tympanic cavity. The cavity is located in the temporal part of the bone, and its volume is one cubic centimeter. The auditory ossicles with the eardrum nearby are located in this area.
A mastoid is located above the cavity , which consists of cells carrying air currents. In it is a kind of cave, that is, a cell through which air molecules move. In the anatomy of the human ear, this area plays the role of the most characteristic landmark in the implementation of any surgical interventions. How the auditory ossicles are connected is of interest to many.
The auditory tube in the anatomy of the structure of the middle ear of a person
This area is a formation that is capable of reaching a length of three and a half centimeters, and the diameter of its lumen can be up to two millimeters. Its upper beginning is located in the tympanic region, and the lower pharyngeal mouth opens in the nasopharynx approximately at the level of the hard palate.
The auditory tube consists of two sections, which are separated by the narrowest point in its area, the so-called isthmus. The bone part departs from the tympanic region, which extends below the isthmus; it is customary to call it membranous-cartilaginous.
The walls of the tube located in the cartilaginous section are usually closed in a calm state, but when chewing they can open slightly, and this can also occur during swallowing or yawning. An increase in the lumen of the tube occurs through two muscles that are connected with the palatine curtain. The ear shell is covered with epithelium and has a mucous surface, and its cilia advance to the pharyngeal mouth, which allows the drainage function of the tube to be fulfilled.
Other facts about the auditory ossicle in the ear and the structure of the middle ear
The middle ear is directly connected to the nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube, whose direct function is to regulate the pressure coming from outside the air. A sharp laying of human ears can signal a transient decrease or increase in environmental pressure.
Long and prolonged pain in the temples, most likely, indicates that the ears are currently trying to actively fight the infection and thus protect the brain from all kinds of impaired performance.
Inner auditory ossicle
Among the fascinating facts of pressure can also be attributed reflex yawning, which signals that sudden changes in the environment around the person occurred, and therefore a reaction in the form of yawning was caused. You should also know that the middle ear of a person encloses the mucous membrane in its structure.
Do not forget that unexpected, even sharp sounds can provoke muscle contraction on a reflex basis and harm both the structure and functioning of the hearing. The functions of the auditory ossicles are unique.
All of the above elements of the anatomical structure carry within themselves the functionality of the auditory ossicles, such as the transmission of perceived noise, as well as its transfer from the outer region of the ear to the inner. Any violation and malfunctioning of at least one of the buildings can lead to the destruction of the functioning of the hearing organs completely.
Middle ear inflammation
The middle ear is the small cavity between the inner and outer ear. In the middle ear, the transformation of air vibrations into a fluid vibration, which is recorded by the auditory receptors in the inner ear, is provided. This occurs with the help of special bones (malleus, anvil, stapes) due to sound vibration from the eardrum to the auditory receptors. To equalize the pressure between the cavity and the environment, the middle ear communicates with the Eustachian tube with the nose. An infectious agent penetrates this anatomical structure and provokes inflammation - otitis media.