Middle Ear
The middle ear is the air-filled space between the eardrum and the inner ear. It contains three tiny bones called the ossicles: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones transmit and amplify sound vibrations from the eardrum to the oval window, which is the membrane-covered opening to the inner ear. The middle ear is connected to the back of the throat through the Eustachian tube, which equalizes pressure in the middle ear and drains any secretions.
When the middle ear is functioning normally, it acts as an efficient mechanical bridge between the air-filled outer ear canal and the fluid-filled inner ear. Diseases or structural problems affecting the middle ear, such as fluid accumulation, infection, ossicle damage, or otosclerosis, reduce the efficiency of this transmission and result in conductive hearing loss.
The middle ear is assessed through tympanometry, which measures eardrum movement in response to air pressure changes, and otoscopy, which gives a direct visual view of the eardrum.
