Collection: Ear models

Anatomically, the ear includes many small and complex structures. With a model of the entire ear, one can study the outer ear (auricula) with the ear canal (meatus acusticus externus), the middle ear (cavum tympani) and the inner ear (auris interna/labyrinth), which contains the cochlea (cochlea) and the balance organ ( with the archways). In addition, a large or small part of the tuba auditoriva (the Eustachian tube) is seen, which communicates with the nasopharynx (upper part of the pharynx) and the location of the ear in the temporal bone (os temoporale).



The ear models also show details such as the eardrum (membrana tympani) and the 3 small bones of the middle ear (ossicula auditus, ossicula auditoria), which respectively called the hammer (malleus), the anvil (incus) and the stirrup (stapes).

The models also show some small muscles and blood vessels such as the internal carotid artery. The most detailed model of the entire ear is greatly enlarged and also shows details such as the oval window.



In the selection there is an ear model which only shows the 3 bones of the middle ear and a simulator for training in ear examination. In addition, there are 2 ear models which show the small anatomical structures in the cochlea, where sensory cells register oscillations which, via nerve connections, lead to sound perception in the brain. One model is a gigantic model of these structures - the other model is smaller and shows far more detail. The 2 models show a cross-section through the ductus cochlearis with the scala vestibuli and scala tympani respectively. over and under. Centrally, the membrana basilaris is seen, which is set into resonant oscillations in connection with hearing. These oscillations are registered by the complex system of sensory cells (the cortical organ/organum spiral) which is attached to the basilar membrane.



Both ear models of the cochlea show structures such as the membrana tectoria, membrana vestibularis (Reissner's membrane), cuniculus internus (the cortical tunnel), ligamentum spiral and cochlear nerve fibers. The model with the most detail of the structures in the cochlea also shows details such as ganglion spiral and many specific cell types such as Hensen cells, Claudius cells and Böttcher cells.

In these ear models (cochlear models/models of the cochlea), the cochlear nerve, which is the auditory nerve, can be seen. It is a component of the vestibulocochlear nerve (8th cranial nerve/cranial nerve which is also called the nerve of hearing and equilibrium). Nervus vestibularis (nerve of balance) is the second component of the 8th cranial nerve.