Variation in size macrotia; microtia; anotia. Variation in position low-set ears; posterior angulation of the ear. Variations of the individual anatomical parts: antihelix; antitragus; concha; helix; lobe; scapha; tragus; triangular fossa.
Named ear anomalies crumpled ear; cryptotia; cupped ear; lop ear; preauricular and auricular pits; preauricular and auricular tags; preauricular ectopias; prominent ear; question mark ear; detachment of ascending helix; satyr ear; shell ear; Stahl ear.
External link, please review our disclaimer. Anatomy of the Ear The anatomy of the external ear, also known as the auricle or pinna, is complex [Hunter and Yotsuyanagi, [ ]] and remarkably inaccurately described by most authors.
Figure 1 Antihelix: A Y-shaped curved cartilaginous ridge arising from the antitragus and separating the concha, triangular fossa, and scapha.
The antihelix represents a folding of the conchal cartilage and it usually has similar prominence to a well-developed helix. The stem the part below the bifurcation of the normal antihelix is gently curved and branches about two thirds of the way along its course to form the broad fold of the superior posterior antihelical crus, and the more sharply folded inferior anterior crus. The inferior and superior crura of the antihelix can vary both in volume and degree of folding. Antihelix, Inferior Crus: The lower cartilaginous ridge arising at the bifurcation of the antihelix that ends beneath the fold of the ascending helix, and separates the concha from the triangular fossa.
The inferior antihelical crus runs in an anterior and slightly superior direction, is usually sharply defined, and appears less variable than its superior counterpart. A synonym is anterior crus of the antihelix. Antihelix, Superior Crus: The upper cartilaginous ridge arising at the bifurcation of the antihelix that separates the scapha from the triangular fossa. The superior crus runs in a superior and slightly anterior direction and is usually less sharply folded than the lower portion and inferior crus.
A synonym is the posterior crus of the antihelix. Antitragus: The anterosuperior cartilaginous protrusion lying between the incisura and the origin of the antihelix. The anterosuperior margin of the antitragus forms the posterior wall of the incisura. Concha: The fossa bounded by the tragus, incisura, antitragus, antihelix, inferior crus of the antihelix, and root of the helix, into which opens the external auditory canal.
It is usually bisected by the crus helix into the cymba superiorly and cavum inferiorly. Frankfurt Horizontal: A plane connecting the lowest point on the lower margin of each orbit and highest point on the upper margin of the external auditory meatus [Farkas, [ ]].
These signals then give your brain information about both sound and the direction and balance of your body. Many nerves run through the ear, and they are responsible for carrying signals about sound and balance to the brain. The skin of the ear canal is thin and very sensitive, and branches of the facial and vagus nerves run under portions of the ear canal and other parts of the outer ear.
A number of conditions can affect the outer ear. Depending on the cause, these problems can be treated by a primary care healthcare provider or an otolaryngologist.
The outer ear is prone to these medical issues:. With both of these congenital defects, hearing tests should be done by a pediatric audiologist soon after birth to determine if the problem is cosmetic or if it interferes with hearing. The location of the outer ear and its structures make examining this part of the body fairly straightforward. In most cases, your healthcare provider will be able to visually inspect the outer ear. In some cases, they may use an otoscope for a more detailed view.
An otoscope is a magnifying device with a light that is inserted into the ear canal for a view of the canal and eardrum. If your healthcare provider needs to see the underlying or deeper structures, a computed tomography CT scan may be required. If a hearing test is recommended to evaluate your outer ear problem, your healthcare provider may perform some basic testing and then you may be referred to an audiologist.
Some types of hearing tests include:. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have ongoing ear pain or are experiencing hearing loss. You should always check with a healthcare professional before putting anything in your ear.
Some home remedies, like candling , are no longer recommended. Balance problems are often more emergent since issues with your vestibular system can cause falls and lead to injury. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Ear Anatomy-Outer Ear. Teach Me Anatomy. The External Ear. Basic Human Anatomy: The Ear. American Academy of Family Physicians. Cerumen Impaction: Diagnosis and Management.
Updated October Stanford Medicine. Diagnosis and management of foreign bodies in the outer ear. Congenital Aural Atresia and Microtia. Hearing tests for adults. Updated December 15, American Academy of Pediatrics. Updated guideline advises on treating children with impacted cerumen. Updated Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
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I Accept Show Purposes. The Anatomy of the Ear. Hearing Loss and Deafness. This problem, present at birth, can appear in one or both ears. It can sometimes occur alongside microtia With both of these congenital defects, hearing tests should be done by a pediatric audiologist soon after birth to determine if the problem is cosmetic or if it interferes with hearing.
When To Seek Help Hearing problems can become serious or dangerous when you can't hear things like: Safety information Oncoming traffic Emergency signals Balance problems are often more emergent since issues with your vestibular system can cause falls and lead to injury.
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