Skip to content
middle ear

File:Blausen_0330_EarAnatomy_MiddleEar.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ501553· pop 47· linked from 408 articles

middle ear

Sign in to save

Also known as Ear, Middle

part of the ear that lies between the eardrum and the oval window

Key facts

Nerve
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Latin
auris media
Mesh
D004432
Ta98
A15.3.02.001

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

74,355 papers

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Show 3 more facts
NCI Thesaurus ID
C12274
Commons category
Middle ear
Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

~12 min read

Article

The middle ear is the portion of the ear medial to the eardrum, and distal to the oval window of the cochlea (of the inner ear).

The mammalian middle ear contains three ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes), which transfer the vibrations of the eardrum into waves in the fluid and membranes of the inner ear. The hollow space of the middle ear is also known as the tympanic cavity and is surrounded by the tympanic part of the temporal bone. The auditory tube (also known as the Eustachian tube or the pharyngotympanic tube) joins the tympanic cavity with the nasal cavity (nasopharynx), allowing pressure to equalize between the middle ear and throat.

Gallery (4)

Connections

Categories