Anatomy of the Ear
In order to understand the variety of disorders that may affect the ear and related structures, it is important to understand the basic anatomy of the ear.

External Ear
The external ear consists of the auricle and external ear canal. Its function is to collect sound and transmit it to the eardrum (tympanic membrane) which separates the external ear from the middle ear.

Middle Ear
The middle ear is an air space behind the eardrum which is physically continuous with the mastoid air space behind the ear and with the nose via the eustachian tube. Contained in the middle ear are the ossicles, or middle ear bones. The malleus, incus and stapes bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. In addition, because of their structure they also provide a modest amplifier effect.

Inner Ear and Internal Auditory Canal
The inner ear consists of an auditory (or hearing) portion and a vestibular (balance) portion. The auditory inner ear consists of the cochlea which transforms the mechanical energy of sound into electrical energy which is transmitted through the auditory nerve to the brain. The balance portion of the inner ear includes specialized receptors that are sensitive to rotation (the semicircular canals) and receptors sensitive to gravitational force (utricle and saccule). These receptors also act as transformers of mechanical energy into an electrical signal which is transmitted via the vestibular nerve through the internal auditory canal to the brain.

Other structures
Located Near the External, Middle and Inner Ear
The anatomy of the ear is closely related to a number of structures, including the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint), parotid salivary gland, the facial nerve which provide motion to the muscles of the face, carotid artery, jugular vein and associated cranial nerves which pass from the inside of the skull to the neck.