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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:40
Dissection of the Auditory Bulla in Postnatal Mice: Isolation of the Middle Ear Bones and Histological Analysis
Published on: January 4, 2017
[Functional model of the middle ear ossicles].
Takahiro Satoda1, Saiji Shimoe, Seicho Makihira
1School of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
Kaibogaku Zasshi. Journal of Anatomy
|July 1, 2009
Summary
This study introduces a novel paper-mache model of middle ear ossicles, enhancing the teaching of sound conduction and muscle functions. The model accurately demonstrates mechanisms like sound amplification and attenuation, aiding audiology education.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Biomechanics
- Medical Education
Context:
- Dissection practice presents challenges in teaching middle ear ossicle structures and functions due to their small size.
- Existing models lack accurate representations of middle ear ossicle movements and muscle functions.
Purpose:
- To develop an accurate and functional model of the middle ear ossicles for educational purposes.
- To clearly illustrate the mechanisms of sound conduction, muscle attenuation, and related pathologies.
Summary:
- A novel model of middle ear ossicles was created using paper-mache with metal components and rubber articulations.
- The model effectively demonstrates sound conduction, amplification via leverage, and sound attenuation by tensor tympani and stapedius muscles.
- It also illustrates stapedius muscle paralysis effects on hearing (hyperacusis) and suggests reasons for the pars lucida's existence.
Impact:
- Improves understanding of middle ear mechanics and audiology concepts for students.
- Provides a valuable tool for demonstrating complex auditory processes in an accessible manner.
- Facilitates clearer explanations of conditions like hyperacusis related to facial nerve injury.
Related Concept Videos
01:11The Auditory Ossicles
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two malleus (hammer) bones, two incus (anvil) bones, and two stapes (stirrups), one on each side. These bones develop during the fetal stage and are the ones to ossify first. They are fully mature at birth and do not grow afterward.
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
01:16Anatomy of the Ear
Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
01:15Equilibrium and Balance
The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
01:24Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification
Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...
01:29The Vestibular System
The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.