Anatomy · Head and Neck

Middle ear

9 min read

  • Middle ear (tympanic cavity): narrow, slit-like air-filled cavity in the petrous temporal bone, between the external and internal ear, transmitting sound via three auditory ossicles.
  • With the pharyngotympanic tube in front and mastoid antrum behind, it forms one diverticulum from the nasopharynx, shaped like a pistol (tube as nozzle, cavity as body, antrum as handle).

middle ear with the pharyngotympanic tube and mastoid antrum Middle ear with the pharyngotympanic tube and mastoid antrum.

Size, Shape and Subdivisions