The helix has three parts: crus, spine, and tail. The outer rim of the auricle is called the helix, which then inferiorly ends as soft tissue known as the lobule of auricle (or ear lobe). The lateral aspect is concave and presents numerous grooves and ridges. There are two aspects of the auricle: and medial (inner) and lateral (outer). The medial aspect of the ear lobe is attached to the skull and has no major practical significance. The auricle is mostly made up of cartilage that is covered with skin. The auricle, also known as pinna, is a wrinkly musculocutaneous tissue that is attached to the skull and it functions to capture sound. Posterior auricular, anterior auricular, minor branches of the occipital, deep auricular, stylomastoid, inferior tympanic arteriesĪuriculotemporal branch of the mandibular nerve, lesser occipital, great auricular nerve, auricular branch of the vagus nerve, branches of the facial nerveĪt the bottom of the ear canal is the tympanic membrane which establishes the border between the external and middle ear. It consists of the auricle and external acoustic meatus (or ear canal). The external ear, like the middle ear, serves only to conduct sound to the inner ear. This mixture of bones, nerves, vessels, membranes, and muscles that make up the ear will be described in this article. Cochlear duct provides hearing informationĪuricular hematoma, otitis (externa, media, interna), blockage of the auditory (Eustachian) tube, high tone deafness Semicircular ducts provide information about movements of the head Utricle and saccule provide information about the position of the head

Bony labyrinth supports its membranous counterparts Parts: bony labyrinth (vestibule, semicircular canals, cochlea) and membranous labyrinth (utricle, saccule, semicircular ducts, cochlear duct) Parts: tympanic cavity, auditory ossicles, muscles of the ossiclesįunction: transforming a high-amplitude low-force sound wave into a low-amplitude high-force vibration and transmitting it to the internal ear Parts: auricle, external acoustic meatus, tympanic membraneįunction: capture and conduction of sound The ear is anatomically divided into three portions: The main functions of the ear are, of course, hearing, as well as constantly maintaining balance. It is situated bilaterally on the human skull, at the same level as the nose. The ear is a complex part of an even more complex sensory system. External auditory meatus, External acoustic pore