HISTOLOGY OF EYES & EAR Dr.

Vila
EARS needed not only for AUDITION/HEARING
- Also responsible for EQUILIBRIUM
EYES vision

EARS
Divided to 3 portions: (External, Middle, Internal)

EXTERNAL
Pinna
External auditory canal
Lateral portion of tympanic membrane

Your PINNA will collect the soundwaves. It will travel

towards the TYMPANIC or EXTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL.
It will vibrate your TYMPANIC MEMBRANE. The
vibration will usually be transmitted to your MIDDLE
EAR.
Pinna -> tympanic canal -> tympanic membrane ->
middle ear

1.
2.

MIDDLE air filled cavity where you see your:

OSSICLES
SKELETAL MUSCLES (2)
Tensor Tympani innervated by CN 5
Stapedius innervated by CN 7

Vibration strikes your TYMPANIC MEMBRANE. You

know that on the MEDIAL portion of your tympanic
membrane, you have there your UMBO or the
connection of your MALLEUS.
Your malleus will be vibrating as well and the vibration
will be transmitted into the INCUS and towards the
STAPES. From the stapes, it will be usually vibrating your
HAIR CELLS found in your inner ear. That will be for
hearing. Basically its in your COCHLEA. It will be
different if it will be your VESTIBULAR CELLS.
You will see here that you will have HAIR/RECEPTOR
CELLS found in your COCHLEA and your VESTIBULAR
PORTION of your inner ear.

INTERNAL is also known as your labyrinth

wherein it has a coiled portion, dilated portion and
different canals or rings.
Cochlea coiled portion
Vestibule dilated portion
Semicircular canals rings

Your labyrinth is divided into:

BONY/OSSEOUS
Made up of:

Cochlea
Semicircular canal
Vestibule
MEMBRANOUS will just be a duplication of your
bony labyrinth
Cochlear duct
Semicircular duct
Saccule and Utricle
You see, you have a cavity of your middle ear that is
connected to your nose, particularly the
NASOPHARYNX, the posterior portion of your nose.
What is the significance?
For example, if there will be changes in the barometric
pressure you will be able to equalize the pressure inside
your middle ear. Remember it has a lateral portion, a
roof, a medial portion and a floor. If it is closed, any
changes in the barometric pressure can always rupture
your tympanic membrane.
This is why everytime you go to high altitude, there will
be decreased barometric pressure. You came from the
sea level. The inner ear will have higher pressure. It will
try to rupture your tympanic membrane. What we do is
we open our EUSTACHIAN TUBE by yawning, chewing or
swallowing so that the pressure in the middle ear will
be equal to the barometric pressure of the atmosphere.
Without the cavity, we wont be able to climb to higher
altitude places. We will rupture our tympanic
membranes. It will decrease sensations of hearing. We
can hear but it will decrease the sensitivity of audition.
AUDITORY TUBE
Adults: oriented obliquely downwards
Children: horizontal
- This is why when a children suffers from colds, it
can also affect the middle ear. If there is increased
pressure, it can cause rupture (OTITIS MEDIA)

COCHLEA
- 2 to 3 quarter turns
Modiolius axis of cochlea
- Found on the medial side
Osseous Lamina on the lateral side (cochlea)
- Bony labyrinth
- Bulge into scala media as Spiral Limbus
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HISTOLOGY OF EYES & EAR Dr. Vila

3 compartments:
Scala Vestibuli uppermost
Scala Tympani lower part
Scala Media middle
Scala vestibuli in the apex has a communication with
Scala tympani. The fluid in the vestibuli has the same
fluid in the tympani. Whatever the composition of the
fluin in vestubuli is ALMOST the same composition of
fluid in the tympani.
Oval window opening associated w/ Scala vestibuli
Round window opening associated w/ Scala tympani
You have your tympanic membrane. You have your
ossicles and then you have your malleus, incus and
stapes. The stapes is in communication w/ your oval
window so that when it vibrates, the stape vibrates the
fluid in the scala vestibule. It vibrates up to their
communication making the fluid in scala tympani
vibrate also. The communication is called
HELICOTREMA and is usually seen on the apex of the
cochlea.
Vestibular membrane (Reissners) - structure that will
divide vestibuli from media
- Made up of 2 layers of simple squamous epithelium
(coming from vestibuli and media)
Basilar membrane divides tympani and media
- This is why when the fluid vibrates from vestibuli. It
will vibrate the vestibular membrane then it will
also vibrate the fluid inside the scala media. When
this vibrates again, it will transmit the vibration on
the fluid in scala tympani. It will vibrate then
basilar membrane then it will vibrate the structure
that rests in the basilar membrane which is Organ
of Corti (receptor for hearing)
PERILYMPH
- Fluid present in scala vestibuli and scala tympani
- Has same composition w/ the plasma w/c means it
has high amounts of SODIUM
- Referred to as EXTRACELLULAR FLUID
ENDOLYMPH
- Found in scala media
- Modified by the structure in scala media that
secretes it which is making it high in POTASSIUM
- sometimes referred to as INTRACELLULAR FLUID

ORGAN OF CORTI
- general term for receptor for hearing
- the true receptors for hearing are inner and outer
hair cells (1:3 ratio)
it does not mean that if there are many outer
hair cells, it is the one forming the spiral
ganglion
90 95% of impulses going to SPIRAL
GANGLION is coming from INNER HAIR CELLS
OUTER HAIR CELLS 5- 10%
Above them is the TECTORIAL MEMBRANE
When the tectorial membrane moves on the
medial side, all hair cells will go to the
medial side. When it moves to the lateral
sides, hair cells will also go to the lateral
side.
SPIRAL LIMBUS structure responsible for the
secretion of tectorial membrane
Above the SL are cells called INTERDENTAL
CELLS (specific cells that secrete tectorial
membrane)
Note:
SPIRAL LIMBUS = structure
INTERDENTAL CELLS = specific cell

Supporting Cells
1. PILLAR CELLS
Inner Pillar medial side
Outer Pillar lateral side
2. PHALANGEAL CELLS
Inner Phalangeal Cells medial side
Outer Phalangeal Cells lateral side
3. DEITERS CELL
- Supporting cells to your hair cells whether inner
or outer hair cells
STRIA VASCULARIS SSNK
- Secretes ENDOLYMPH
- Has a unique electrogenic path for POTASSIUM w/c
is highly permeable to potassium
- In the scala media
POTASSIUM INFLUX = action potential
Outside the stria vascularis is SPIRAL LIGAMENT.
Outside the spiral ligament is the OSSEOUS/BONY
LAMELLA

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HISTOLOGY OF EYES & EAR Dr. Vila

SPIRAL GANGLIA
- Collection of nerve cell body on the medial side
that innervates hair cells
- Under it is where dendrites pass through (SPIRAL
LAMINA)
CRISTA AMPULLARIS
- Receptor found in semicircular canal
- Angular acceleration (upon turning head)
MACULA
- Receptors in utricle and saccule

Structure/
Receptor
Cochlea
(organ of
corti)
Semicircular
Canal
(Crista
Ampullaris)
Saccule &
Utricle
(Macula)

Function

Nerve

Gelatinous
membrane
Tectorial
membrane

hearing

Cochlear

balance

Vestibular

cupula

balance

Vestibular

Otolitic
membrane

Tinnitus ringing/buzzing sound

Cochlear + Vestibular -> Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN 8)
Otholitic membrane gelatinous membrane above the
hair cell of crista ampullaris
- Contains collection of calcium carbonates w/c are
called OTOLITHS/OTOCONIA
Serves as a weight (for balance & equilibration)

EYE
3 layers:
TUNICA FIBROSA fibrous coat; outer layer
- 1/6 cornea 5/6 sclera
TUNICA VASCULOSA vascular/muscular coat
-

EYELID
- Contains GLANDS of MEIBOMIAN (sebaceous
gland) w/c secretes lipid to prevent dehydration of
conjunctiva
- ZEIS (modified sebaceous) and MOLL (sweat
glands) to maintain wetness of the anterior
portion of the eye. This is why we keep on blinking.
CORNEA has 5 layers
5 layers:
1. Corneal Epithelium SSNK
2. Bowmans Membrane glassy membrane
- Maintain stability and strength of cornea
3. Substancia Propria/ Stroma bulk of the cornea
- Made up of dense regular connective tissue
4. Descemets Membrane contains collagenous
fibers w/c are produced by single layer of
squamous endothelial cells
5. Corneal Endothelium simple squamous
- Maintain the transparency of the cornea
Anterior Chamber space behind the cornea
- Contains AQUEOUS HUMOR w/c drains into the
CANAL OF SCHLEMM
Pupil space in between the iris
Posterior Chamber space behind the iris, anterior to
the lens
Vitreous Space space behind the lens
- Contains VITREOUS HUMOR responsible for
maintaining the shape of the eyeball
CORNEOSCLERAL JUNCTION
- 1/6 of cornea + 5/6 of slera
- Contains the CANAL OF SCHLEMM
IRIS contains pigment epithelium
- Affected by melanin
- Muscle beside it near the pigment epithelium is
called BRACHIAL MUSCLE
- RADIAL MUSCLE- contracts outwards
also known as DILATOR PUPILLAE MUSCLE
- the muscle in the middle is called CIRCULAR
MUSCLE
contraction causes constriction that is why
its also called CONSTRICTORPUPILLAE
MUSCLE

UVEAL TRACT mainly made up of choroid

CHOROID expand anteriorly to form ciliary body.
- Move more anteriorly then narrow to form IRIS
(responsible for the color of the eye)

TUNICA NERVOSA nervous coat; inner layer

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HISTOLOGY OF EYES & EAR Dr. Vila

1:1:1 ratio = most acute vision
CILIARY BODY

Has CILIARY MUSCLE and CILIARY PROCESS

Ciliary Process - synthesize and secrete aqueous
humor which goes to the posterior chamber going
to the pupil then anterior chamber then drains into
the canal of schlemm.

C. Process P.Chamber Pupil A. chamber Canal

of Schlemm

has Zonular Ligament w/c attaches your lens

Ciliary Muscle when this contracts it will contract

to the inner side
- Contraction and relaxation affects refraction of
lens
Contract -> tumataba yung lens
Relax -> pumapayat

RETINA nervous coat

Pars Optica
Pars Caeca
OPTIC CUP has inner and outer layer
Inner layer becomes PIGMENT EPITHELIUM
Outer layer becomes the 9 layers of retina
This is why when there is retinal detachment. This is
where it divides because these have different origins.
SCLERA made up of dense irregular connective tissue

1 PHOTORECEPTOR is connected to 1
-BIPOLAR CELL is connected to 1 GANGLION
CELL
- Seen in FOVEA CENTRALIS in the Macula Lutea,
that has yellowish discoloration seen in
opthalmoscope
3. Outer limiting membrane hard to identify
4. Outer nuclear layer contains nerve cell bodies of
photoreceptors
5. Outer plexiform layer contains the axons of the
photoreceptors
- Synapses w/ the dendrites of the bipolar cell
6. Inner nuclear layer contains nerve cell bodies of
bipolar cells
- It has axons that synapses w/ the dendrites of
ganglion cells
7. Inner plexiform layer axonsof bipolar cell + dendrites
of ganglion cells
8. Layer of ganglion cells cell bodies of ganglion cells
9. Layer of optic nerve fibers axons of ganglion cells
converts to form OPTIC NERVE
10. Inner limiting membrane formed by MULLERS CELLS
(forms outer and inner limiting membrane)
Horizontal cells cell in between the synapse of
photoreceptor and bipolar cells (outer plexiform layer)
Amacrine cells cell in the nerve cell body of bipolar
cell (inner nuclear layer)

CHOROID vascular area

CORNEA
Dense regular CT
(-) retina, (-)choroid

SCLERA
Dense irregular CT
(+) retina, (+) choroid

10 LAYERS OF RETINA
1. Pigmented Epithelium
- Has a lot of pigments
2. Layer of rods and cones (Bacillary layer)
- PHOTORECEPTOR layer
Rods and Cones are actually DENDRITES of the
photoreceptor
- Cone pyamidal in shape
- Rods bacilli in shape
Other cells:
- BIPOLAR CELLS
- GANGLION CELLS

ZPBC | Section 1-B