THE MIDDLE EAR

Question 1

where does the middle ear lie?

Answer 1

within the temporal bone

Question 2

where does the middle ear extend?

Answer 2

from the tympanic membrane to the lateral wall of the internal ear

Question 3

what is the main function of the middle ear?

Answer 3

to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear – it does this via the three bones of the ear

Question 4

what can the middle ear be split into?

Answer 4

the tympanic cavity and epitympanic recess

Question 5

where does the tympanic cavity lie?

Answer 5

medially to the tympanic membrane

Question 6

what does the tympanic cavity contain?

Answer 6

majority of the bones of the middle ear

Question 7

where is the epitympanic recess found?

Answer 7

superiorly, near the mastoid air cells

Question 8

how can the middle ear be visualised?

Answer 8

as a rectangular box, with a roof and floor, medial and lateral walls and anterior and posterior walls

Question 9

what forms the roof of the middle ear?

Answer 9

Formed by a thin bone from the petrous part of the temporal bone

Question 10

what does the roof of the middle ear separate?

Answer 10

It separates the middle ear from the middle cranial fossa

Question 11

what is the floor of the middle ear known as?

Answer 11

the jugular wall

Question 12

what does the floor of the middle ear consist of?

Answer 12

a thin layer of bone, which separates the middle ear from the internal jugular vein

Question 13

what forms the lateral wall of the middle ear?

Answer 13

This is made up of the tympanic membrane and the lateral wall of the epitympanic recess

Question 14

what forms the medial wall of the middle ear?

Answer 14

Formed by the lateral wall of the internal ear

Question 15

what does the medial wall of the middle ear contain?

Answer 15

a prominent bulge, produced by the facial nerve as it travels nearby

Question 16

what forms the anterior wall of the middle ear?

Answer 16

The anterior wall is a thin bony plate with two openings; for the auditory tube and the tensor tympani muscle

Question 17

what does the anterior wall of the middle ear separate?

Answer 17

separates the middle ear from the internal carotid artery

Question 18

what is the posterior wall of the middle ear also known as?

Answer 18

the mastoid wall

Question 19

what does the posterior wall of the middle ear consis of?

Answer 19

a bony partition between the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells

Question 20

what is present within the bony partition between the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells?

Answer 20

Superiorly, there is a hole in this partition, allowing the two areas to communication

Question 21

what is the hole superior in the partition between the tympanic cavity and the mastoid air cells called?

Answer 21

the aditus to the mastoid antrum

Question 22

what are the bones of the middle ear called?

Answer 22

the auditory ossicles

Question 23

what are the bones within the middle ear?

Answer 23

the malleus, incus and stapes

Question 24

how do the bones of the middle ear connect?

Answer 24

connected in a chain-like manner, linking the tympanic membrane to the oval window of the internal ear

Question 25

which is the largest bone within the middle ear?

Answer 25

The malleus is the largest and most lateral of the ear bones

Question 26

where does the malleus attach?

Answer 26

to the tympanic membrane, via the handle of malleus

Question 27

where does the head of the malleus lie?

Answer 27

in the epitympanic recess, where it articulates with the next auditory ossicle, the incus

Question 28

what is the next bone from the malleus?

Answer 28

the incus, consists of a body and two limbs

Question 29

what does the body of incus articulate with?

Answer 29

The body articulates with the malleus

Question 30

what does the short limb of the incus attach to?

Answer 30

the short limb attaches to the posterior wall of the middle

Question 31

what does the long limb of the incus attach to?

Answer 31

the long limb joins the last of the ossicles; the stapes

Question 32

which is the smallest bone in the human body?

Answer 32

The stapes is the smallest bone in the human body

Question 33

what does the stapes join to?

Answer 33

It joins the incus to the oval window of the inner ear

Question 34

structure of the stapes?

Answer 34

It is stirrup-shaped, with a head, two limbs, and a base

Question 35

what does the head of stapes articulate with?

Answer 35

The head articulates with the incus

Question 36

what does the base of the stapes join?

Answer 36

the oval window