Anatomy of Auditory Systems
Providing educational information is crucial in the treatment of tinnitus patients as it helps them understand their condition, manage expectations, and engage effectively in therapeutic interventions.
Outer Ear
The outer ear consists of the pinna (auricle) and the external auditory canal. It collects and funnels sound waves toward the eardrum.
Detailed anatomy of the outer ear
Middle Ear
The middle ear is an air-filled cavity containing three small bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones amplify and transmit sound vibrations.
The three ossicles of the middle ear
Structure of the eardrum
Inner Ear
The inner ear contains the cochlea for hearing and the vestibular system for balance. The cochlea converts sound waves into nerve signals.
Inner Ear fluid in motion in cochlea
Corti-Diagram
Organ of Corti
Inner and outer hair cell close up
Inner and outer hair cell healthy
Outer hair cell bundle healthy
Outer and inner hair cell damaged and close up of damage
Auditory Nerve to Auditory Cortex
The auditory pathway carries sound information from the cochlea through the auditory nerve to the brain's auditory cortex for processing.
Correspondence between cochlea and acoustic area of cerebral cortex