Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Ear01:16

Anatomy of the Ear

13.2K
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...
13.2K
Equilibrium and Balance01:15

Equilibrium and Balance

7.7K
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...
7.7K
The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

52.3K
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.
52.3K
The Auditory Ossicles01:11

The Auditory Ossicles

3.6K
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...
3.6K
Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

8.5K
Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
8.5K
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract01:29

Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract

6.2K
The upper respiratory tract plays a vital role in the respiratory system, comprising several structures that facilitate air intake and prepare air for the lungs. It also serves as the first line of defense against pathogens and particles. This tract includes the nose and nasal cavity, the oral cavity, the paranasal sinuses, and the pharynx, each with specific functions and features.
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract....
6.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Multilayered soft material characterization using surface wave elastography and laser Doppler vibrometry.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same author

Exploring the Use of Cold Atmospheric Plasma for Sound and Vibration Generation.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2024
Same author

The importance of mechanical and biological cues of tympanic membrane grafts to ensure optimal regeneration.

Biomaterials advances·2024
Same author

3D-localisation of cochlear implant electrode contacts in relation to anatomical structures from in vivo cone-beam computed tomography.

Hearing research·2022
Same author

Synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography for the visualization of intra-cochlear anatomy in human temporal bones implanted with a perimodiolar cochlear implant electrode array.

Journal of synchrotron radiation·2021
Same author

A New, Promising Experimental Ossicular Prosthesis: A Human Temporal Bone Study With Laser Doppler Vibrometry.

Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology·2020

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Discovering Middle Ear Anatomy by Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery: A Dissection Manual
10:40

Discovering Middle Ear Anatomy by Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery: A Dissection Manual

Published on: January 11, 2018

70.1K

Eustachian Tube Function.

Bernard Ars1, Joris Dirckx2

  • 1University of Namur, c/o Avenue du Polo 68, Namur, Belgium.

Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America
|July 30, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The Eustachian tube, a complex fibrocartilaginous structure, connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx. It plays a vital role in pressure regulation and gaseous exchange within the auditory system.

Keywords:
Balance of pressure variations in the middle ear cleftFibrocartilaginous eustachian tubeMorphofunctional partition of the middle ear cleftPhysiology of the eustachian tube

More Related Videos

Robot-Assisted Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery for Congenital Cholesteatoma
02:37

Robot-Assisted Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery for Congenital Cholesteatoma

Published on: December 15, 2023

1.7K
Endolymphatic Duct Blockage as a Surgical Treatment Option for Ménière's Disease
04:11

Endolymphatic Duct Blockage as a Surgical Treatment Option for Ménière's Disease

Published on: April 28, 2023

2.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Discovering Middle Ear Anatomy by Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery: A Dissection Manual
10:40

Discovering Middle Ear Anatomy by Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery: A Dissection Manual

Published on: January 11, 2018

70.1K
Robot-Assisted Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery for Congenital Cholesteatoma
02:37

Robot-Assisted Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery for Congenital Cholesteatoma

Published on: December 15, 2023

1.7K
Endolymphatic Duct Blockage as a Surgical Treatment Option for Ménière's Disease
04:11

Endolymphatic Duct Blockage as a Surgical Treatment Option for Ménière's Disease

Published on: April 28, 2023

2.7K

Area of Science:

  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • The Eustachian tube is a critical component of the upper airway and middle ear system.
  • It links the nasopharynx to the middle ear cleft, comprising the tympanic cavity and mastoid air cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the anatomical structure and functional components of the fibrocartilaginous Eustachian tube.
  • To highlight its role in the interconnected system of the nose, palate, rhinopharynx, and middle ear.

Main Methods:

  • Anatomical description based on existing literature.
  • Identification of key structural elements and associated musculature.

Main Results:

  • The Eustachian tube is a dynamic conduit composed of mucosa, cartilage, and surrounding soft tissues.
  • It is supported by peritubal muscles (tensor veli palatini, levator veli palatini, salpingopharyngeus, tensor tympani) and bony structures.

Conclusions:

  • The Eustachian tube's intricate structure facilitates its function in pressure equalization and gas exchange.
  • Understanding its anatomy is crucial for comprehending middle ear function and pathology.