Ears as a Sense Organ
We have five different sense organs that perform many different tasks in our body.
The ear is our hearing organ. Ear anatomy is examined in three main parts.
- Auricle and external auditory canal
- Middle ear (eardrum, middle ear cavity, Eustachian tube)
- Inner ear (hearing and balance)
Auricle: It consists of skin and cartilage and allows sound to be directed to the outer ear canal.
External Auditory Canal: It is approximately 2.5 cm long. The outer 1/3 is made up of cartilage and the inner 2/3 is made up of bone.
Eardrum: It is a structure with a diameter of about 1 cm that separates the middle ear from the outer ear.
Middle Ear Cavity: It contains the malleus, incus, and stapes. The middle ear is ventilated by the Eustachian tube.
Eustachian Tube: It is a 3.5 cm long structure located between the middle ear cavity and the nasal cavity.
Organ of Balance: It consists of semicircular canals and a vestibule.
Hearing Organ: It is a helical structure that makes about 2.5 turns.
