Human Anatomy - Kotsan I. Y. 2009

Vestibulocochlear organ (organ of hearing and equilibrium)
Age-related features of the organ of hearing

The auricle (pinna) in a newborn is flattened, its Cartilage is soft, and the covering Skin is very thin. The earlobe (lobule) is small. The auricle grows most rapidly During the first 2 years of a child's life and after 10 years of age.

The external acoustic meatus in newborns is narrow, long (about 15 mm), and sharply curved. Its walls are cartilaginous, except for the tympanic ring. The lining skin is thin and delicate. By 1 year of age, the length of the external acoustic meatus is about 20 mm, and by 5 years of age, it reaches 22 mm.

The tympanic membrane in a newborn is relatively large, measuring 9 mm in height and 8 mm in width (the same as in adults). In newborns, the tympanic membrane is positioned much more obliquely than in adults. The angle it forms with the inferior wall of the external acoustic meatus is 35–40°.

The tympanic cavity in a newborn is similar in size to that of an adult. However, due to the thickened mucous membrane at this age, it appears narrow. At birth, the tympanic cavity contains fluid, which, upon the initiation of breathing, passes through the auditory tube into the Pharynx and is swallowed. The walls of the tympanic cavity are thin, especially the superior wall. The inferior wall is composed of Connective Tissue in some areas. The posterior wall features a wide opening leading into the mastoid antrum.

The auditory ossicles are close in size to those of an adult.

The auditory tube in a newborn is straight, wide, and short (17–21 mm). Its cartilaginous part is poorly developed. During the first year of life, the auditory tube grows slowly, but more rapidly In the second year. Its length is 20 mm in a 1-year-old child, 30 mm at 2 years, 35 mm at 5 years, and 35–38 mm in adults.

The internal ear in a newborn is well-developed, and its dimensions are close to those of an adult. Experiments have shown that, unlike the visual system, the Organ of Hearing Functions even in the fetus. Research indicates that newborns prefer female voices, and within the first few weeks of life, infants are already able to recognize their mother's voice.

Basic Latin terms

Vestibulocochlear Organ — organum vestibulocochleare

External ear — auris externa

Auricle — auricula

Earlobe — lobulus auricularis

Helix — helix

Crus of helix — crus helicis

Tail of helix — cauda helicis

Spine of helix — spina helicis

Auricular tubercle — tuberculum auriculare

Antihelix — antihelix

Crura of antihelix— crura antihelicis —

Triangular fossa — fossa triangularis

Scapha — scapha

Tragus — tragus

Antitragus — antitragus

Intertragic notch — incisura intertragica

Concha of ear — concha auricularis

Boat of the concha — cymba conchalis

Cavity of the concha — cavitas conchalis

Eminence of the concha — eminentia conchae

Ligaments of the auricle — ligg. auricularia

Anterior auricular ligament — lig. auriculare anterius

Superior auricular ligament — lig. auriculare superius

Posterior auricular ligament — lig. auriculare posterius

Intrinsic Muscles of the auricle — mm. auriculares proprii

Major Muscle of helix — m. helicis major

Minor muscle of helix — m. helicis minor

Tragicus muscle — m. tragicus

Antitragicus muscle — m. antitragicus

Oblique muscle of the auricle — m. obliquus auricularis

Transverse muscle of the auricle — m. transversus auricularis

Anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles — mm. auriculares anterior, superior et posterior

External acoustic meatus — meatus acusticus externus

Cartilage of the acoustic meatus — cartilage meatus acustici

Ceruminous glands — glanclulae ceruminesae

Tympanic membrane — membrana tympanica

Fibrocartilaginous ring — anulus fibrecartilagineus

Flaccid part — pars flaccida

Tense part — pars tensa

Umbo of the tympanic membrane — umbe membranae tympanicae

Malleolar stria — stria mallearis

Middle ear — auris media

Tympanic cavity — cavitas tympanica

Tegmental wall — paries tegmentalis

Jugular wall — paries jugularis

Carotid wall — paries caroticus

Mastoid wall — paries mastoideus

Labyrinthine wall — paries labyrinthicus

Membranous wall — paries membranaceus

Auditory ossicles — ossicula auditus

Malleus — malleus

HEAD of malleus — caput mallei

Handle of malleus — manubrium mallei

Incus — incus

Body of incus — corpus incudis

Short limb — crus breve

Long limb — crus longum

Lenticular process — processus lenticularis

Stapes — stapes

Head of stapes — caput stapedis

Anterior limb — crus anterius

Posterior limb — crus posterius

Base of stapes — basis stapedis

Incudomalleolar joint — articulatio incudomallearis

Incudostapedial joint — articulatio incudostapedialis

Tympanostapedial syndesmosis — syndesmosis tympanostapedialis

Annular ligament of stapes — lig. anulare stapediale

Stapedial membrane — membrana stapedialis

Tensor tympani muscle — m. tensor tympani

Stapedius muscle — m. stapedius

Auditory tube — tuba auditoria

Bony part of the auditory tube — pars ossea tubae auditoriae

Cartilaginous part of the auditory tube — pars cartilaginea tubae auditoriae

ISTHMUS OF THE auditory tube — isthmus tubae auditoriae

Tympanic opening of the auditory tube — ostium tympanicum tubae auditoriae

Pneumatic Cells — cellulae pneumaticae

Pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube — ostium pharyngeum tubae auditoriae

Internal ear — auris interna

Bony labyrinth — labyrinthus osseus

Vestibule — vestibulum

Spherical recess — recessus sphericus

Elliptical recess — recessus ellipticus

Vestibular aqueduct — aqueductus vestibuli

External aperture of the vestibular aqueduct — apertura externa aqueductus vestibuli

Internal aperture of the vestibular aqueduct — apertura interna aquaeductus vestibuli

Vestibular crest — crista vestibuli

Cochlear recess — recessus cochlearis

Bony semicircular canals — canales semicirculares ossei

Anterior semicircular canal — canalis semicircularis anterior

Posterior semicircular canal — canalis semicircularis posterior

Lateral semicircular canal — canalis semicircularis lateralis

Prominence of the lateral semicircular canal — prominentia canalis semicircularis lateralis

Bony limbs — crura ossea

Common bony limb — crus osseum commune

Ampullary bony limb — crus osseum ampullaria

Simple bony limb — crus osseum simplex

Cochlea — cochlea

Spiral canal of the cochlea — canalis spiralis cochleae

Base of the cochlea — basis cochleae

Cupola of the cochlea — cupula cochleae

Modiolus — modiolus

Base of the modiolus — basis modioli

Longitudinal canal of the modiolus — canalis longitudinalis modioli

Bony spiral lamina — lamina spiralis ossea

Spiral lamina hook — hamulus laminae spiralis

Helicotrema — helicotrema

Spiral canal of the modiolus — canalis spiralis modioli

Spiral ganglion of the cochlea — ganglion spirale cochlearis

Scala vestibuli — scala vestibuli

Scala tympani — scala tympani

Round window (cochlear window) — fenestra cochleae

Secondary tympanic membrane — membrana tympani secundaria

Crest of the cochlear window — crista fenestrae cochleae

Internal opening of the cochlear canaliculus — apertura interna canaliculi cochleae

External opening of the cochlear canaliculus — apertura externa canaliculi cochleae

Membranous labyrinth — labyrinthus membranaceus

Perilymphatic space — spatium perilymphaticum

Perilymph — perilympha

Endolymph — endolympha

Endolymphatic sac — saccus endolymphaticus

Elliptic recess (utricle) — utriculus

Spherical sac (saccule) — sacculus

Reuniens duct — ductus reuniens

Utriculosaccular duct — ductus utriculosaccularis

Endolymphatic duct — ductus endolymphaticus

Macula of the utricle — macula utriculi

Macula of the saccule — macula sacculi

Neuroepithelium — neuroepithelium

Statoconia (otoliths) — statoconia

Statoconial membrane — membrana statoconiorum

Semicircular ducts — ductus semicirculares

Anterior semicircular duct — ductus semicircularis anterior

Posterior semicircular duct — ductus semicircularis posterior

Lateral semicircular duct — ductus semicircularis lateralis

Membranous limbs — crura membranacea

Membranous ampullae — ampullae membranaceae

Ampullary crest — crista ampullaris

Cupula — cupula

Cochlear duct — ductus cochlearis

Vestibular cecum — caecum vestibulare

Cupular cecum — caecum cupulare

External wall of the cochlear duct — paries externus ductus cochlearis

Vestibular wall of the cochlear duct — paries vestibularis ductus cochlearis

Tympanic wall of the cochlear duct — paries tympanicus ductus cochlearis

Basilar lamina — lamina basilaris

Spiral ligament of the cochlea — lig. spirale cochleae

Stria vascularis — stria vascularis

Spiral limbus — limbus spiralis

Vestibular lip of the limbus — labium limbi vestibulare

Tectorial membrane — membrana tectoria

Tympanic lip of the limbus — labium limbi tympanicum

Spiral sulcus — sulcus spiralis

Spiral organ — organum spirale