It contains thecochlea, a snail-shaped bony structure filled with fluid.
These waves move the tiny hairs in the ear that send sound or movement signals to the brain.
Structure
The ear is made up of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.
LEONELLO CALVETTI / Getty Images
The inner ear consists of the bony labyrinth and membranous labyrinth.
The bony labyrinth comprises three components:
Cochlea:The cochlea is a hollow bone shaped like a snail.
A membrane divides it into two fluid-filled chambers.
The cochlea is about 9 millimeters wide at its widest point and about 5 millimeters tall.
If it could be uncoiled, it would be about 30 millimeters long.
There are three of them, and they line up at 90-degree angles to one another.
This angle lets the brain know which direction the head is moving.
Like the cochlea, these canals are filled with fluid.
They also contain small calcium crystals and tiny hairs that sense fluid movement.
The size of the canals is challenging to measure since they are surrounded by bone.
Vestibule:Thevestibuleis the central part of the bony labyrinth.
These two canalsthescala vestibuliabove the duct and the scala tympani below itare separated from the main duct by membranes.
Sensory receptors in these ducts detect this change and send information to your brain to help you maintain balance.
Utricle and saccule:These sacs are within the membranous labyrinth and work to detect vertical and horizontal positioning.
Endolymph enters and exits these sacs.
Specifically, this nerve carries information to the brain from the tympanic membrane.
Cranial nerve 8:Another cranial nerve, the eighth cranial nerve, is also called thevestibulocochlearnerve.
It combines vestibular and cochlear nerve fibers.
Both are sensory nerve fibers.
Damage to this nerve could impact both hearing and balance.
Location
The inner ear lies directly next to the middle ear.
The portion of the temporal bone that houses the inner ear is the most dense portion of this bone.
The temporal lobe of the brain, also housed in the temporal bone, is above the inner ear.
A smaller number of congenital hearing loss is because of malformations of the bony labyrinth in the inner ear.
Each part of the inner ear has a specific function.
Cochlea:The cochlea is responsible for hearing.
It comprises several layers, with theOrgan of Cortiat the center.
This is the portion of the cochlea that is lined with tiny hairs called cilia.
Cilia move as sound waves pass through the fluid in the cochlea.
The first canal is responsible for sensing up-and-down movement.
The second canal senses side-to-side movements.
The third canal signals to the brain when the head is tilted.
Each canal contains fluid and tiny hairs.
Vestibule:The primary function of the vestibule is to detect changes in gravity and up-and-down movement.
For example, it is responsible for sensing if you are standing up straight or upside-down.
How Do We Hear?
Several ear parts work together to collect and transmit sound and movement to the brain.
How Does Our Sense of Balance Work?
Besides sound, the inner ear is also responsible for our balance and sense of body positioning.
The semicircular canals are responsible for interpreting which direction the head is moving.
A typical example is sea sickness.
Your vestibular system may sense that you are rocking side to side.
However, your eyes may perceive you standing straight and not rocking.
This can cause several symptoms associated with sea sickness, such as nausea and dizziness.
Associated Conditions
A number of conditions can result from problems within the middle ear.
Most of these problems involve hearing loss or a disruption of balance.
When hearing loss is the problem, the symptoms should be clear.
Hearing can be reduced or even gone completely.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause of the hearing loss.
If the problem lies in the structure of the cochlea, acochlear implantmay be able to help.
In other cases of hearing loss, treatments vary, buthearing aidscan help reduce the impact of the problem.
If the tumor begins to cause problems, radiation and surgical removal of the tumor may be recommended.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV) is also known as positional vertigo.
There is no real known cause for this condition outside of a head injury.
Symptoms rarely become serious and are more annoying or uncomfortable.
Your healthcare provider may use one of two main repositioning techniques to reduce your symptoms.
Alternatively, surgery may be an option if the repositioning or exercises are ineffective.
The procedure involves destroying nerve fibers in the semicircular canal or the entire semicircular canal.
Both surgical procedures prevent the sensory hairs from sending signals to the brain, which can result in vertigo.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’sdisease involves the pressure of the fluid in the inner ear.
Meniere’s disease usually begins in one ear but can sometimes spread to both ears.
Treatments center on symptom management, such as using medications to control nausea or dizziness.
In severe cases, surgery may reduce the amount of fluid in the inner ear and relieve pressure.
The condition is thought to originate from viral infections in the ear or other body parts.
This swelling and inflammation make it difficult to send information about balance to the brain.
Symptoms include problems with balance, dizziness, and concentration.
This condition can be repaired with surgery to fill and resurface the area of missing bone.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out to a healthcare provider.
Computerized dynamic posturography:This test evaluates three sensesvestibular, somatosensory, and vision.
When these senses are functioning well together, you have good balance.
During this test, you will stand on a platform barefoot, secured with a safety harness.
Your balance will then be tested in a variety of situations.
How strongly you respond to the sound will indicate how well your vestibular cranial nerves function.
Contact your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your hearing or balance.
These tests can provide your practitioner with information to determine what your next steps should be.
Clean Your Ears
Ear wax helps keep your ears healthy.
However, some individuals may produce more wax than others.
This can cause problems if the wax becomes impacted or hardened.
Fortunately, you might use several safe methods to soften the wax and clean your ears.
you’re able to also try washing your ear with body-temperature warmed water or saline.
Using room temperature or chilled water may make you dizzy.
However, talk to your healthcare provider before doing this on your own.
Kits are available for home use.
When to Use Caution
Several conditions can make cleaning your ears yourself riskier.
Be careful not to clean your ears too frequently unless recommended by your healthcare provider.
This is because there areeustachiantubes in each of your ears.
When you’re sick, they can swell and block fluid from draining appropriately.
These measures include:
These measures can often help relieve pain and pressure from clogged ears due to illness.
Protect Your Ears
It is vital to protect your ears from preventable hearing loss.
Sound is measured in a unit called decibels (dBA).
Prolonged or repeated exposure to decibels at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss.
For context, a normal conversation is around 60-70 dBA.
A lawnmower averages 80-100 dBA, and a sports event tends to be between 94-110 dBA.
Consider wearing ear protection if you are exposed to loud sounds, especially for extended periods.
Also, be aware of how loud your music is.
Summary
The inner ear plays a vital role in your ability to hear and balance.
Several conditions may affect the inner ear, with treatment options available to lessen symptoms and reduce hearing loss.
They can then determine the best treatment plan for your condition.
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